The European Union (EU) and South Korea are important trade partners: As of April 2023, Korea is the EU's third-largest importer. Excluding European countries, Korea has secured the third place on the list, following China and the United States. And the EU is Korea's third largest export destination. The two have signed a free trade agreement which came into effect at end of 2011. Furthermore, South Korea is the only country in the world with the three agreements covering economics, politics and security in effect as of 2020.
In 2022, South Korea's investment in the EU is $110.4 billion and the EU's investment in Korea is $116.8 billion, and they are actively interacting with each other.
Agreements
The first EU–South Korea agreement was Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters (signed on 13 May 1997).Bilateral relations Korea, European Commission This agreement allows the sharing of competition policy between the two parties. The second agreement, the Framework Agreement on Trade and Co-operation (enacted on 1 April 2001). The framework attempts to increase co-operation on several industries, including transport, energy, science and technology, industry, environment and culture.
Following extended negotiations, the EU and Korea in 2010 signed a new framework agreement and a free trade agreement (FTA) which was the EU's first FTA with an Asian country and removes virtually all tariffs and many non-tariff barriers. On the basis of this, the EU and Korea decided in October 2010 to upgrade their relationship to a Strategic Partnership. These agreements came into force in 2011.Republic of Korea, European External Action Service
Meetings EU-Korea summits have taken place in 2002 (Copenhagen), 2004 (Hanoi) and 2006 (Helsinki) on the sidelines of ASEM meetings. In 2009, the first standalone bilateral meeting was held in Seoul. The European Parliament delegation for relations with Korea visits the country twice a year for discussions with their Korean counterparts. Meetings at foreign minister level take place at least once a year on the sidelines of ASEAN regional form meetings, however meetings between the Korean foreign minister and the EU High Representative have occurred more frequently, for example at G20 meetings. Ad hoc meetings between officials occur nearly monthly.Political relations, EU delegation to Korea
List of Summits 2002 EU-South Korea Summit (Copenhagen)
2004 EU-South Korea Summit (Hanoi)
2006 EU-South Korea Summit (Helsinki)
2009 EU-South Korea Summit (Seoul)
2010 EU-South Korea Summit (Brussels) Lee Myung-bak, President of South Korea Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission
2012 EU-South Korea Summit (Brussels) Lee Myung-bak, President of South Korea Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission
2013 EU-South Korea Summit (Brussels) Park Geun-hye, President of South Korea Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission
2015 EU-South Korea Summit (Seoul) Park Geun-hye, President of South Korea Donald Tusk, President of the European Council
2016 EU-South Korea Summit (Ulaanbaatar)
2018 EU-South Korea Summit (Brussels) Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea Donald Tusk, President of the European Council Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission
2020 EU-South Korea Summit (Video) Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea Charles Michel, President of the European Council Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
2021 EU-South Korea Summit (G7, Cornwall)
2023 EU-South Korea Summit (Seoul) Yoon Suk Yeol, President of South Korea Charles Michel, President of the European Council Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
2026
EU-South Korea Summit (Brussels) Lee Jae Myung, President of South Korea António Costa, President of the European Council Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Cooperation Horizon Europe Two years after South Korea officially expressed its intention to join Horizon Europe in 2022, South Korea and the European Union signed a Horizon Europe agreement, which is expected to allow Korea to participate in that from 2025.
Science and technology
South Korea and EU held the '2nd Korea-EU Digital Partnership Council' in March 2024, where they decided to invest a total of 12 million euros (16.2 billion won) over the next three years from 2024 to start cooperation in semiconductors, 6G, and cybersecurity.
Trade Trade in goods between the two parties was about €100 billion in 2017. The EU is the third largest importer of South Korean goods, while South Korea is the ninth largest importer of EU goods.
As of April 2023, Korea is the EU's third-largest importer. Excluding European countries, Korea has secured the third place on the list, following China and the United States.
EU to South Korea (billion, €) 20162019202020212022Services €12.6€4.6€3.2€3.0Goods€44.1€44.2€55.5€71.9Investment stocks €50.3€65.9
South Korea to EU 20162019202020212022Services €6.6€7.7€6.9€7.9Goods€41.7€45.3€51.8€60.2Investment stocks €19.2€36.0 South Korea's foreign relations with EU member states Austria
Bulgaria Croatia
Czech Republic Denmark
France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy
Netherlands Poland
Spain
See also Foreign relations of South Korea Foreign relations of the European Union North Korea–European Union relations
References
External links EU delegation to Korea