South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a summit at the Blue House on November 3, 2026, agreeing to strengthen practical cooperation in strategic sectors like nuclear energy, defense, and infrastructure while expanding ties into biotechnology, AI, and critical minerals.
Strategic Bilateral Agreements on Nuclear Energy and Defense
President Erdogan is visiting South Korea on a state visit from November 2 to 4, marking his first state visit in eight years since 2018. During the summit, the two leaders reviewed progress on the Sinop nuclear power plant project in Turkey, which involves building four 1,400-megawatt units with an estimated cost of 40 trillion won. To support domestic firms seeking to participate in this project, the two nations signed a nuclear project financing memorandum of understanding (MOU) that builds on the nuclear cooperation MOU signed in November 2025.
Defense cooperation also advanced following the defense-logistics joint committee meeting held in July and a naval cooperation letter of intent signed in September. President Lee stated that both countries will expand joint production and technological partnerships alongside joint entry into third-party markets. In infrastructure, the nations intend to pursue major Turkish road projects under an existing road infrastructure cooperation MOU.
Did You Know? President Erdogan’s current visit is his first state trip to South Korea since 2018, and follows bilateral talks held in Ankara during a NATO summit in July 2026.
Officials elevate trade committee following bilateral agreement
Economic cooperation has expanded significantly since the South Korea-Turkey Free Trade Agreement took effect in 2013, with bilateral trade reaching 10.7 billion dollars last year. To support this growth, trade authorities agreed to elevate the existing director-level FTA joint committee to a ministerial level, as announced following talks between South Korea’s Trade Negotiation Head Park Jung-sung and Turkish Deputy Trade Minister Mustafa Tuzcu.
The state visit concluded with a state dinner at the Blue House yeongbinwan attended by 80 prominent figures from both nations, including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun and POSCO Group Chairman Jang In-hwa. President Lee presented President Erdogan with a custom South Korean national basketball team jersey honoring his love for the sport, alongside red ginseng, while gifting First Lady Emine Erdogan a celadon tea set.
Governments establish new frameworks for advanced technology cooperation
Beyond traditional trade, the summit established frameworks for cooperation in advanced technology and natural resources. South Korean firm SK Plasma continues its involvement in Turkey’s blood product self-sufficiency initiative through local plasma fractionation plant construction. The two governments established a new energy transition forum via a newly signed energy cooperation MOU to focus on clean energy, hydrogen, and renewables.
Science and technology partnerships will expand into artificial intelligence, advanced communications, and advanced materials through a dedicated science and technology innovation MOU and its first joint committee. Meanwhile, a natural resources and mining MOU will establish government-level channels to diversify critical mineral supply chains. On security matters, President Erdogan affirmed Turkey’s consistent support for South Korea’s North Korea policy, and both leaders agreed to maintain strategic coordination through the UN, G20, and MIKTA regarding regional issues such as the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
President Erdogan returns to South Korea after eight years
When did President Erdogan last make a state visit to South Korea?
President Erdogan last visited South Korea on a state visit in 2018, making his November 2026 trip his first in eight years.
What is the scale of the Sinop nuclear power plant project discussed by the two leaders?
The Sinop project involves constructing four 1,400-megawatt nuclear units on Turkey’s Black Sea coast with an estimated project cost of 40 trillion won.
How are trade negotiations between South Korea and Turkey changing following the summit?
The bilateral Free Trade Agreement joint committee, previously operated at the director level, is being elevated to a ministerial level to tackle trade imbalances and regulatory hurdles.
How will the newly established ministerial-level trade committees impact small and medium-sized enterprises exporting industrial equipment to Turkey?