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 Kazakhstan |  South Korea |
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Kazakhstan–South Korea relations are the international relations betweenKazakhstan and theSouth Korea.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on January 28, 1992, shortly after Kazakhstan's independence.[1] Bilateral relations have grown steadily since that time. Cooperation between the two nations has grown in political, economic, and educational spheres.
In the late 1930s thousands of Koreans in the Soviet Union weredeported to Central Asia, supposedly to prevent further Japanese espionage.[2][3] These people are now known asKoryo-saram(Korean: 고려인).[4] It is estimated that more than 120,000 ethnic Koreans (known asKoryo-saram) still live in the territory of Kazakhstan.[5] The presence of these ethnic Koreans helps to strengthen ties between the two countries.[6]Hong Beom-do, Korean independence activist, was also forced and moved to Kazakhstan, where he spent rest of his life. His memorial tomb was located inKyzylorda until 2021, and his remains were returned to his home country,South Korea. He was buried atDaejeon National Cemetery where martyrs and heroes rest in peace.
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South Korea and Kazakhstan formally established diplomatic relations in January 1992. Soon thereafter South Korea opened its embassy inAlmaty, and in 1996 Kazakhstan opened its embassy inSeoul.[7]
Kazakhstani presidentNursultan Nazarbayev has made five official visits to South Korea, in 1995, 2003, 2010, 2012, 2016. The first state visit of the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, to South Korea took place from 12 to 14 November 2003. During the meeting between the two presidents, issues related to deepening bilateral cooperation were discussed, and an agreement was reached to elevate relations to a new level of strategic partnership. During the visit, Nursultan Nazarbayev was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen ofSeoul.[8]
In 2004, South Korean presidentRoh Moo Hyun visited Kazakhstan. His successor,Lee Myung-bak, visited Kazakhstan in 2009.[9] PresidentPark Geun-hye visited Kazakhstan in 2014 where she and President Nazarbayev agreed to strengthen economic and investment cooperation and technology exchange.[10] President Moon Jae-In visited Kazakhstan in 2019.
Kazakhstan PresidentKassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a state visit to S. Korea on 16-17 of August, 2021, and has become first foreign leader to visit South Korea amid pandemic. Low-level officials, including ministers and mayors, make regular visits between the two countries.[1]
South Korea PresidentYoon Suk Yeol paid a state visit to Kazakhstan on 11-13 of June, 2024, upgrading strategic partnership between the 2 states.[11]
Since independence, South Korea and Kazakhstan have witnessed deepening economics ties, as Kazakhstan has become South Korea's most important trading partner in Central Asia.[12]In 2008,Kookmin Bank, one of South Korea's largest banks, purchased a 30% stake in Kazakhstan's CenterCredit Bank for about $634 million.[13]
Korean companies are also involved in Kazakhstan's oil industry. The Korean Consortium of the Caspian Oil Project, which is led by the Korea National Oil Company and includesSK Corporation,LG International,Samsung, and Daesung Industrial, is involved in the development of the Zhambyl oil field, located in theCaspian Sea. Under the agreement, the consortium will own 27% of drilling rights, with the option to purchase up to 50% of the rights, depending on what is found after further exploration. The field is estimated to hold 1 billion barrels ofcrude oil.[14][15]
In May 2009 the two countries signed an agreement for Korean investments in Kazakhstan's energy and technology sectors totaling over $5 billion. The agreement includes a $2.5 billion investment by South Korean companies in a new power plant in southern Kazakhstan. The two companies,Korea Electric Power Corporation andSamsung C&T will own 65% of the plant, which is scheduled for completion by 2014.[9]
South Korean President Park Geun-hye expressed support for the economic developmentKazakhstan 2050 Strategy on a 2014 visit to Kazakhstan.[10]
In November 2020, the South Korean embassy inAstana organized a webinar looking at Kazakhstan's approach to voluntary disposing of the 1410 warheads it inherited from theSoviet Union. The two countries also had productive talks during the 13th Central Asia-South Korea Cooperation Forum in Seoul, in which they discussed the consequences and opportunities for economic cooperation in the context of theCOVID-19 pandemic, as well as the removal of remaining barriers to trade and improving product quality and competitiveness.[16]
South Korea's major exports to Kazakhstan includeautomobiles,televisions, and otherelectronics. Kazakh exports primarily raw materials, includingcopper andzinc, to South Korea.[1]As of 2024, South Korea is the 5th largest investor and 4th largest trade partner of Kazakhstan.[5] Trade turnover between the two countries amounted to US$6 billion in 2023, and over the past 18 years, the gross inflow of foreign direct investment from Korea to Kazakhstan reached US$9.6 billion.[5]
Korean business is represented quite widely in Kazakhstan. World-famous Korean companies such as Samsung, Hyundai, Kia, Lotte, Doosan, KT, Posco, LG, Shinhan, CU are successfully implementing their projects.In total, about 740 companies with Korean capital operate in Kazakhstan. There are 55 joint projects between the 2 countries. In 2024, a chain of South Korean stores “CU” opened in Kazakhstan. BGF Retail plans to open 500 CU stores in Kazakhstan.[5]
In 2005 the Association for Kazakhstan Studies in Korea (AKSK) was founded in response to South Korean president Roh's visit to Kazakhstan. The association aims to improve bilateral relations between the two countries as well as improve academic study of the different ethnicities in Kazakhstan.[17]
The oldest Korean-language newspaper outside of the Korean peninsula,Koryo Ilbo, celebrated its 100th anniversary with events both in Kazakhstan and in South Korea.
TheKorean Theatre of Kazakhstan, an ethnic theatre for Koryo-saram in Almaty, has served as a cultural link for South Korea and Kazakhstan. The theatre has been visited by prominent South Korean politicians,[18] and in 2023 it served as a venue for a joint South Korean-Kazakh play during a cultural exchange year.[19]
According to the results of 2023, the tourist flow from South Korea to Kazakhstan increased by 125%.[5]
The number of Koreans visiting Kazakhstan more than doubled in 2023. In March 20-21, 2024, civil aviation authorities of the 2 countries agreed to increase the number of current flights between Almaty and Seoul from 10 to 42 flights per week. Additionally, starting from June 15, 2024, Air Astana will operate two direct flights a week between Astana and Seoul.[5]
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