Dear visitor,

I wish you a very warm welcome to the website of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Republic of Korea (RoK)!

We are currently living through exceptionally turbulent geopolitical times. Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, the ensuing energy and food security crisis, climate change, the effect of a major pandemic, and several other major challenges such as non-proliferation, are all and in conjunction, impacting global security and the world economy.

All these geopolitical shifts and challenges make it even more essential that the EU and the RoK, two close friends, continue strengthening and deepening our bilateral relations in 2023, the year we are celebrating the 60^th anniversary of our official bilateral relations, our Hwangap(환갑). Close cooperation on security, economic, trade, cultural, science and education issues over decades has turned the EU and the RoK into strategic, like-minded partners. The EU and the RoK share a common world outlook characterised by democracy, the rule of law, human rights, openness and inclusiveness, both being attached to multilateralism. I am pleased to see that we utilize this partnership to work hand in hand not just to promote mutual interests, but also to reinforce the international rules-based order as well as peace and international security.

EU Commission

The EU is today the 1^st foreign direct investor and the 3^rd largest trading partner for Korea, while the RoK is the 9 largest trading partner for the EU. The RoK has significant importance for the EU as it is the first partner country to have concluded three key bilateral agreements covering political, trade and security cooperation. Furthermore, South Korea’s new Indo-Pacific strategy shows a very high level of convergence with the EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Both strategies promote inclusivity, constructive cooperation, democratic values and an international rules-based order, and a comprehensive sectoral approach in many policy areas.

The EU and the RoK established diplomatic relations in 1963 on May 22nd, and this important anniversary was highlighted by the 10th EU-Republic of Korea summit in Seoul when President Yoon met President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. On this occasion, both partners agreed to strengthen green, digital and health partnerships as well as develop a security partnership.

The EU and the RoK will continue to support each other to tackle challenges in climate change and digital transition, taking a leading role in climate action and digital transformation. We will continue to push forward the green recovery agenda and fight against climate change together in pursuit of our shared goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. We will also work more closely on the security front, to bring enduring peace and security in Europe and in the Korean Peninsula.

We also continue working together to promote cultural exchange, study opportunities and research cooperation. The EU and the RoK have a lot to offer to each other and to the international community, and these are great ways to improve the well-being of our societies and bolster our diplomatic relations further.

Having served now in the RoK for two and a half years as an Ambassador and four years as the Deputy Head of the mission some about 15 years ago, I witnessed with my own eyes the progress that the EU-Korea cooperation has achieved across all areas. I am entirely convinced that the EU-RoK Strategic Partnership will continue to play a vital role to the benefit of us all.

We would like to celebrate together the 60^th anniversary of this meaningful journey in international relations and sincerely hope you will join us ahead.

Thank you for visiting our website, and for your continued interest in the EU-RoK relations.

Maria CASTILLO-FERNANDEZ, EU Ambassador to Korea

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