South Korea, UK agree to speed up free trade pact talks

ISTANBUL

South Korea and the UK on Monday agreed to speed up talks for an upgraded bilateral free trade agreement, in a bid to deepen the trade and investment relationship.

The agreement came as South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina hosted Catherine West, UK's top diplomat for Asia-Pacific, in Seoul for talks.

The two sides “reviewed progress of negotiations for an upgraded UK–ROK Free Trade Agreement,” a joint statement released by the South Korean Foreign Ministry said.

They also agreed to collaborate in various sectors, including trade and investment, economic security, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, the defense industry, and energy.

In June, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada.

Total trade in goods and services between the two nations amounted to £15.4 billion (nearly $20.8 billion) in the four quarters to the end of the first quarter of 2025, according to official data from the UK.

ISTANBUL

South Korea and the UK on Monday agreed to speed up talks for an upgraded bilateral free trade agreement, in a bid to deepen the trade and investment relationship.

The agreement came as South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina hosted Catherine West, UK's top diplomat for Asia-Pacific, in Seoul for talks.

The two sides “reviewed progress of negotiations for an upgraded UK–ROK Free Trade Agreement,” a joint statement released by the South Korean Foreign Ministry said.

They also agreed to collaborate in various sectors, including trade and investment, economic security, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, the defense industry, and energy.

In June, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada.