ANKARA / ISTANBUL

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to meet his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun, on Wednesday during Cho’s official working visit to Türkiye, according to sources at the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

During the talks, Fidan is expected to welcome the positive momentum in bilateral relations, shaped by the two countries’ long-standing friendship dating back to the Korean War. He is also likely to underscore the importance of the recent increase in reciprocal high-level visits.

Fidan is expected to underline the importance of multilateral cooperation on international platforms, particularly within the UN and the MIKTA partnership, which brings together Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Türkiye, and Australia.

Discussions around how to further boost the steadily growing bilateral trade are also on the agenda.
Opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector – especially in nuclear and renewable energy – are likely to be addressed, with a particular focus on the Sinop Nuclear Power Plant Project.

The two ministers are also expected to explore prospects for launching joint research and development projects in areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, semiconductors, biotechnology, battery technology and information and communication technologies.

Building on the successful cooperation under the Altay Main Battle Tank Project, the agenda is expected to include a review of potential areas for further defense industry collaboration, notably in unmanned aerial vehicles, submarines, missiles, and air defense systems.

Fidan is also expected to highlight the strong bond of brotherhood between the peoples of the two countries and the significant potential for expanding cooperation in tourism.

The meeting is also expected to include an exchange of views on the Ukraine war, Palestine, Syria, Iran and other current regional and global developments, as well as discussions on the reconstruction of Ukraine, Syria and Palestine and cooperation opportunities in Central Asia and African countries.

- Türkiye-South Korea relations

Political relations between the two countries date back to Aug. 11, 1949, when Türkiye recognized South Korea as an independent state. Diplomatic ties were formally established in 1957.

Türkiye was among the first countries to send troops in support of South Korea during the Korean War, which began in 1950, in line with a UN Security Council resolution. Nearly 23,000 Turkish soldiers served in South Korea during the war and the years that followed.

Bilateral relations were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership in 2012.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung paid an official visit to Türkiye last November. During that visit, three agreements were signed, and a joint declaration on the nations’ strategic partnership was issued.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last visited South Korea in 2018.

South Korea is Türkiye’s second-largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region after China. Bilateral trade volume reached approximately $10.3 billion in 2024, and the two countries are linked by a Free Trade Agreement.