:South Korea–European Union relations

{{main|European Union–South Korea Free Trade Agreement}}

The first EU–South Korea agreement was Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters (signed on 13 May 1997).[http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/bilateral-relations/countries/korea/index_en.htm 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.{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/countries/korea/index_en.htm|title=European Commission - South Korea Briefing|publisher=European Commission|access-date=2009-01-11}}{{cite web|url=http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2005/february/tradoc_111835.pdf|title=FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT for Trade and Cooperation between the European Community and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Korea, on the other hand|date=2001-03-30|publisher=European Commission|access-date=2009-01-13}}

Following extended negotiations,{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/01/123_37431.html|title=S. Korea Strives to Ink FTA With EU at Early Date|date=2009-01-07|publisher=The Korea Times|access-date=2009-01-11}} 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.[http://eeas.europa.eu/korea_south/index_en.htm Republic of Korea], European External Action Service

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.[http://www.delkor.ec.europa.eu/home/relations/rokrelations/political.html Political relations], EU delegation to Korea

• EU-South Korea Summit (Copenhagen)

• EU-South Korea Summit (Hanoi)

• EU-South Korea Summit (Helsinki)

• EU-South Korea Summit (Seoul){{Cite web |title=ROK-EU Relations |url=https://lby.mofa.go.kr/eng/wpge/m_5457/contents.do |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Korea}}

• EU-South Korea Summit (Brussels){{Cite news |date=October 6, 2010 |title=EU signs record FTA with South Korea |url=https://www.dw.com/en/eu-signs-record-fta-with-south-korea/a-6084599 |work=DW News}}
• Lee Myung-bak, President of South Korea
• Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council
• Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission

• EU-South Korea Summit (Brussels){{Cite news |date=March 28, 2012 |title=Leaders of S. Korea, EU at press conference |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/PYH20120328013000341 |work=Yonhap News}}
• Lee Myung-bak, President of South Korea
• Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council
• José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission

• EU-South Korea Summit (Brussels){{Cite news |date=August 11, 2013 |title=EU, South Korea summit starts |url=https://www.dw.com/en/eu-south-korea-debate-impact-of-free-trade-accord/a-17213658 |work=DW News}}{{Cite web |date=6 November 2013 |title=EU-SOUTH KOREA |url=https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vjeiifd48czw?ctx=vgaxlcr1jzk6 |website=EU Mornitor}}
• Park Geun-hye, President of South Korea
• Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council
• Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission

• EU-South Korea Summit (Seoul){{Cite web |date=September 16, 2015 |title=Korea, EU to put FTA into effect by end 2015 |url=https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/policies/view?articleId=129944 |website=Korea.net}}
• Park Geun-hye, President of South Korea
• Donald Tusk, President of the European Council

• EU-South Korea Summit (Ulaanbaatar){{Cite web |title=Korea - EU |url=https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/be-en/wpge/m_7448/contents.do |website=Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union and Permanent Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization}}

• EU-South Korea Summit (Brussels){{Cite web |date=October 19, 2018 |title=EU-Republic of Korea summit, 19 October 2018 |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2018/10/19/ |website=European Council, Council of the European Union}}
• Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea
• Charles Michel, President of the European Council
• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

• EU-South Korea Summit (Video){{Cite news |date=June 30, 2020 |title=S. Korea-EU video summit |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/PYH20200630203700315 |work=Yonhap News}}
• Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea
• Charles Michel, President of the European Council
• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

• EU-South Korea Summit (G7, Cornwall)

• EU-South Korea Summit (Seoul){{Cite news |date=May 22, 2023 |title=Full text of joint statement adopted at S. Korea-European Union summit |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230522008300315 |work=Yonhap News}}
• Yoon Suk Yeol, President of South Korea
• Charles Michel, President of the European Council
• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

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.{{Cite news |date=March 27, 2024 |title=South Korea joins EU’s research programme Horizon Europe |url=https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/south-korea-joins-eus-research-programme-horizon-europe/4019237.article |work=Chemistry World}}

{{See also|Science and technology in South Korea|Science and technology in Europe}}

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.{{Cite news |date=March 28, 2024 |title=South Korea and EU to launch joint research on brain-inspired semiconductors |url=https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2024/03/28/KPRDUL5X6BBVFCC5E65DFRXU2Q/ |work=The Chosun Daily}}

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.

(billion, €)

• Foreign relations of South Korea
• Foreign relations of the European Union
• North Korea–European Union relations

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.delkor.ec.europa.eu/home/aboutus/welcome2.html EU delegation to Korea]

{{Foreign relations of the European Union}}

{{Foreign relations of South Korea}}

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European Union

Category:Third-country relations of the European Union