Kazakhstan–South Korea relations
Map indicating locations of Kazakhstan and South Korea

Kazakhstan
South Korea

Kazakhstan–South Korea relations are the international relations between Kazakhstan and the South 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. The presence of 100,000 ethnic Koreans living in Kazakhstan (known as Koryo-saram) creates an additional link between the two countries.[2]

History

Koryo-saram

In the late 1930s thousands of Koreans in the Soviet Union were deported to Central Asia, supposedly to prevent further Japanese espionage. These people are now known as Koryo-saram. It is estimated that 100,000 ethnic Koreans still live in the territory of Kazakhstan.[1] The presence of these ethnic Koreans helps to strengthen ties between the two countries.[3]

Modern relations

South Korea and Kazakhstan formally established diplomatic relations in January 1992. Soon thereafter South Korea opened its embassy in Almaty, and in 1996 Kazakhstan opened its embassy in Seoul.[4]

Kazakhstani president Nursultan Nazarbayev has made five official visits to South Korea, in 1995, 2003, 2010, 2012, 2016. In 2004, South Korean president Roh Moo Hyun visited Kazakhstan. His successor, Lee Myung-bak, visited Kazakhstan in 2009.[5] President Park Geun-hye visited Kazakhstan in 2014 where she and President Nazarbayev agreed to strengthen economic and investment cooperation and technology exchange.[6] President Moon Jae-In visited Kazakhstan in 2019.

Kazakhstan President Kassym-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]

Economic relations

The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul, South Korea.

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.[7] Korean business have invested more than $7 billion in Kazakhstan, and South Korean investors have assets in more than 500 companies in Kazakhstan.[8] In 2008, Kookmin Bank, one of South Korea's largest banks, purchased a 30% stake in Kazakhstan's CenterCredit Bank for about $634 million.[9]

South Korea's major exports to Kazakhstan include automobiles, televisions, and other electronics. Kazakh exports primarily raw materials, including copper and zinc, to South Korea.[1]

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 includes SK Corporation, LG International, Samsung, and Daesung Industrial, is involved in the development of the Zhambyl oil field, located in the Caspian 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 of crude oil.[10][11]

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 and Samsung C&T will own 65% of the plant, which is scheduled for completion by 2014.[5]

South Korean President Park Geun-hye expressed support for the economic development Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy on a 2014 visit to Kazakhstan.[6]

As of 2020, Kazakhstan is South Korea's second largest partner in emerging Europe and Central Asia, with trade reaching $5.9 billion. South Korea imported $1 billion worth of goods and resources from Kazakhstan, and South Korean investment in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan exceeded $7 billion.[2]

In November 2020, the South Korean embassy in Astana organized a webinar looking at Kazakhstan's approach to voluntary disposing of the 1410 warheads it inherited from the Soviet 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 the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the removal of remaining barriers to trade and improving product quality and competitiveness.[2]

Cultural/educational relations

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.[12]

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.

The Korean 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,[13] and in 2023 it served as a venue for a joint South Korean-Kazakh play during a cultural exchange year.[14]

Ambassadors of Korea in Kazakhstan

  • (embassy since 1992–1996)
  1. Kim Chang Geun 김창근 1993.11
  2. Lee Young Min 이영민 1996.10
  3. Choi Seung Ho 최승호 1999.11
  4. Tae Suk Won 태석원 2002.08
  5. Kim Il Soo 김일수 2005.09
  6. Lee Byung Hwa 이병화 2009.03
  7. Baek Joo Hyun 백주현 2012.04
  8. Cho Young Cheon 조용천 2015.10
  9. Kim Dae Sik 김대식 2017.04
  10. Goo Hung Suk 구홍석 2020.07[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kazakhstan Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  2. 1 2 3 "South Korea is becoming a real alternative to Russia and China in Central Asia". Emerging Europe. 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  3. ↑ Joint Statement of the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Kazakhstan South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (September 2004)
  4. ↑ Cooperation of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the Republic of Korea Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  5. 1 2 "Kazakhstan, S.Korea sign $5 bln worth of deals". Reuters. May 13, 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Kazakhstan, South Korea Expand Economic Ties". The Astana Times.
  7. ↑ Astana hosting Kazakhstan-South Korea business forum Archived 2012-02-08 at the Wayback Machine Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan
  8. ↑ "Kazakhstan, South Korea Vow To Boost Ties", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2006-09-22
  9. ↑ Kim, Yeon-hee (2008-03-17), "Kookmin to Buy Kazakh Bank Stake for $634 Mln", Reuters
  10. ↑ "Korea National Oil Signs Oil Cooperation Deal with Kazmunaigaz on Zhambyl Oilfield in Kazakhstan", Business Week, archived from the original on July 9, 2012
  11. ↑ Korean consortium secures stake in Kazakhstan oil field Korea.net
  12. ↑ Kazakhstan folk dancing team performs in Korea
  13. ↑ Lee, Joel (2018-03-19). "Koryoin, living precariously in Korea". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  14. ↑ Kwon, Mee-yoo (2023-08-19). "Korean Theater of Kazakhstan carries legacy of independence fighter". koreatimes. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  15. ↑ "공관약사". overseas.mofa.go.kr.
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