Poland–South Korea relations

Poland and Korea first had official contacts in the early 20th century, when both nations were ruled by foreign powers – Poland was partitioned between Austria, Germany and Russia, while Korea was under Japanese rule. Due to suffering similar oppression, the Koreans and Poles shared strong sympathy, and the March 1st Movement, which aimed to form an independent Korea, made Koreans compared to the Poles of Asia.{{cite web|url=https://voegelinview.com/the-poland-of-asia-korea-and-the-march-1st-movement/|title=The Poland of Asia: Korea and the March 1st Movement|first=Lee|last=Trepanier|date=1 March 2019|website=Voegelinview.com|access-date=26 March 2019}}

As a result of World War II, both Poland and North Korea were occupied by the Soviet Union, which installed communist regimes in both countries. As a result, relations between the Polish People's Republic and Republic of Korea did not exist after the war, when the republics were established and aligned with opposing blocs in the Cold War. Poland supported North Korea against South Korea and virtually no relations between Poland and South Korea existed throughout the Cold War, in which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was recognized by Polish People's Republic as the legitimate representative of all Korea.{{cite web|url=http://www.krakowpost.com/9717/2015/07/the-strange-history-of-north-korean-polish-relations|title=The strange history of North Korean-Polish relations|first=Giuseppe|last=Sedia|date=17 July 2015|website=Krakowpost.com|access-date=26 March 2019}} It was not until the 1990s when the Cold War ended that Poland and South Korea established relations.

File:Mateusz Morawiecki na Szczycie V4 + Korea Południowa (7).jpg and President Moon Jae-in during meeting in 2021]]

Following the end of Cold War, Poland and South Korea's relations dramatically improved and eventually became a strategic partnership.{{Cite journal |jstor = 23258234|title = The Last Twenty Years of Relations Between the Republic of Poland and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea selected Aspects (1989~2009) |journal = The Journal of East Asian Affairs|volume = 25|issue = 2|pages = 21–38|last1 = Bober|first1 = Andrzej|year = 2011}} South Korea was the first Asian country to officially loan $450 million in economic aid to Poland.{{Cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-02-mn-347-story.html |title = Diplomatic Ties with Poland Set up|newspaper = Los Angeles Times|date = 2 November 1989}} Investments from South Korea continues to increase as for the result of the good relationship between two countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3789|title='Korean investment in Poland continues to grow due to good conditions' – 코리아포스트|website=Koreapost.com|access-date=26 March 2019}} Poland is also a consumer of Korean networking technology and mobile communications technology.

In 2016, South Korea deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, Kim Hyong-zhin, praised Poland for its historical contributions to science and culture, and expressed South Korea's desire to expand the cooperative relationship between the two countries.{{Cite web |date=15 May 2016 |title=Poland-Korea relations to drift skyward |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160515000052 |website=The Korea Herald}}

In 2018, Polish President Andrzej Duda expressed his wish to support a United Nations-led initiative over Korea, aiming for peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula.{{Cite web | url=https://polandin.com/37219819/local-media-polish-soldiers-to-support-un-initiative-in-korea |title = Polish soldiers to support UN initiative in Korea|website=Polandin.com}}

In 2022, Poland and South Korea strengthened their military cooperation when Poland made a major purchase of K2 Black Panther tanks, K9 Thunder howitzers and FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea.{{cite web|url=https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/au/articles/aktualnosci/czolgi-haubice-i-samoloty-z-korei-dla-sil-zbrojnych-rp/|title=Czołgi, haubice i samoloty z Korei dla Sił Zbrojnych RP|website=Wojsko Polskie|access-date=11 March 2023|language=pl}} The agreement also provides for technology transfer, the launch of production in Poland and joint Korean-Polish development of next-generation military equipment.

Several Polish museums possess collections of Korean art and artifacts, including the National Museum of Ethnography in Warsaw and District Museum in Toruń.

For South Korea, Poland is the largest trading partner in Central Europe, with two-way trade hitting an all-time high of $8.95 billion in 2022. The two countries aim to triple bilateral trade by 2030.{{Cite news |date=August 23, 2023 |title=S. Korea, Poland seek enhanced trade, industry ties |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230823003800320 |work=Yonhap News}}

• Poland has an embassy in Seoul, and an honorary consulate in Daegu.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.pl/web/republikakorei/konsulaty-honorowe|title=Konsulaty honorowe|website=Portal Gov.pl|accessdate=23 May 2021|language=pl}}
• South Korea has an embassy in Warsaw, and an honorary consulate in Wrocław.{{cite web|url=https://korpuskonsularny.wroclaw.pl/konsulat/konsulat-honorowy-republiki-korei/|title=Konsulat Honorowy Republiki Korei|website=Korpus konsularny|accessdate=23 May 2021|language=pl}}

File:Seoul centre 041.JPG|Embassy of Poland in Seoul

File:Waw korea poludniowa99.jpg|Embassy of South Korea in Warsaw

==See also==

• Foreign relations of Poland
• Foreign relations of South Korea
• Koreans in Poland
• North Korea–Poland relations

{{Reflist}}

• [https://seul.msz.gov.pl/en/seul_kr_a_32 Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Seoul]
• [http://overseas.mofa.go.kr/pl-ko/index.do Ambasada Republiki Korei w Polsce]

{{Foreign relations of Poland}}

{{Foreign relations of South Korea}}

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Korea, South

Poland