South Korea–Ukraine relations

South Korea–Ukraine relations are foreign relations between South Korea and Ukraine. Diplomatic Relations were established on February 10, 1992. South Korea has an embassy in Kyiv. Ukraine has an embassy in Seoul.
Ukraine recognizes the Republic of Korea as the sole legitimate government in the Korean Peninsula since 13 July 2022, after breaking diplomatic relations with North Korea over its recognition of the Luhansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic, two Russia-controlled breakaway states in eastern Ukraine.
Supply of weapons
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine asked South Korea for aid. As noted in October 2022 South Korea had provided Ukraine with some resources, but refused to supply lethal weaponry. Even until March 2023 the South Korean government refused to supply Ukraine with lethal weaponry because of a decades-old legal prohibition on this practice to any parties involved in conflict. However, as of April 2023, the government would supply weapons components.
In an interview on 18 April 2023 South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said his country "might extend its support for Ukraine beyond humanitarian and economic aid if it comes under a large-scale civilian attack". Said Yoon: "If there is a situation the international community cannot condone, such as any large-scale attack on civilians, massacre or serious violation of the laws of war, it might be difficult for us to insist only on humanitarian or financial support."
Political relations
Ukraine declared its independence on August 24, 1991, with the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, On December 30, 1991, the South Korean government recognized Ukraine as a sovereign state. South Korea and Ukraine established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1992. On July 31, 1992, the government of the Republic of Korea established the Embassy of South Korea, Ukraine in Kyiv, In October 1997, the Ukrainian government established the Embassy of South Korea, Ukraine in Seoul. Since then, the Republic of Korea and Ukraine have maintained friendly relations, with reciprocal visits by high-ranking officials from both countries.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Suh Hoon South Korea's Blue House held a National Security Council on February 24, 2022, to discuss measures regarding the Ukraine crisis. Moon Jae-in President of the Republic of Korea, said, "Russia's invasion of Ukraine cannot be justified under any circumstances. South Korea will work for a peaceful resolution of the situation, such as economic sanctions against Russia." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a spokesperson statement, saying, "We strongly condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which constitutes an act in violation of the Charter of the United Nations. " and joins the international community's economic sanctions against Russia. The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced that it will impose sanctions on Sberbank and the six largest Russian banks (VEB. RF, Sberbank (PSB), VTB Bank, Otkritie, Sovcom, and Novikom). The Financial Services Commission said it would also suspend transactions with Rossiya Bank as of March 7, 2022.
Since the 2014 crisis in Ukraine, the South Korean government has stated that Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity must be respected. Therefore, the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea forcible annexation, as well as the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic-Luhansk People's Republic, established by pro-Russian separatist rebels operating in the Donbass region of Ukraine, and Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian Donetsk Oblast-Luhansk Oblast-Zaporizhia Oblast-Kherson Oblast It also denies the annexation.
Tourism
The Ukrainian government provides South Korean nationals with a South Korean passport with visa-free entry for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, on February 13, 2022, the South Korean government designated Ukraine as a travel ban country due to escalating military tensions with Ukraine. Ukrainian citizens with Ukrainian passports must apply for a visa to enter South Korea. However, if they hold a diplomatic or tolerance passport, they can enter South Korea without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Economic relations
Since 1998, Korean exports to Ukraine have generally grown each year, except for a decline in 1999. However, due to the financial crisis in Ukraine in late 2008, there was a significant 76.0% drop in 2009. Following that, Korean exports to Ukraine experienced steady growth, but starting in 2013, the country's exports declined sharply as the Ukrainian economy faced challenges from the Revolution of Dignity and the civil war in the eastern region.
As of October 2019, South Korea's total investment in Ukraine amounted to $37 million (78 deals), mainly focused on car, mobile computing, and home appliance sales. In 2019, over 20 Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Hyundai Corp, Hyundai Rotem, Youngsan Corporation, POSCO, Ecovice, OSSTEM, and Hankook Tire, were operating within Ukraine.
According to the MIT Media Lab Economic Complexity Observatory, South Korea's exports to Ukraine were valued at $479 million in 2020, mainly manufactured goods such as automobiles and various machinery. On the other hand, Ukraine exported $382 million to South Korea, mainly corn, wheat, and other food crops.
Culture relations
K-pop
Ukraine's recognition of South Korea as a country that has experienced remarkable economic growth, despite starting out as one of the poorest nations in the world. Ukraine is expressing a desire to learn from South Korea's success and is highlighting the popularity of South Korean culture, including K-pop, K-drama, and K-Beauty, as well as the increasing number of Ukrainian students who are interested in learning Korean.
Drama
Since 2008, when Ukraine (TV channel) aired "슬픈연가," "대장금," "다모," and "태양의 여자" to high ratings, interest in Korean dramas has steadily grown, and in 2017, five Korean dramas were imported and remade into local formats by major Ukrainian broadcasters, achieving the highest ratings of their time. In Ukraine, a country dominated by Russian and American dramas, the airing of Korean dramas has played a significant role in promoting Korean culture and image.
Movie
With the spread of the Korean Wave in Ukraine, interest in Cinema of Korea has increased. In 2008, Kyiv hosted the first Korean film festival, and in 2016, a film about North Korean defectors was chosen to screen at the Molodist(Kiev International Documentary Film Festival). This film attracted a lot of attention from Ukrainian media. With the screenings of Park Chan-wook's "The Handmaiden" in 2016 and Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" as the Odesa International Film Festival's opening film in 2019, South Korean cinema is growing in popularity in Ukraine.
Korean
Korean language departments were established in 1998 at Kyiv National Linguistic University and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. A Korea Education Institution, which is crucial to the growth and spread of Korean language instruction in Ukraine, was established in Kyiv in March 2017. In September 2018, the University of Customs and Finance in Ukraine's industrial hub of Dnipro also established a Korean language department.
Every year, there are more Korean majors and trainees. The Korea Education Institution, founded in 2017, had about 200 students in its first year and doubled to about 400 in 2019.
Korean cuisine
Over 30,000 Koryo-saram reside in Ukraine, so there is a portion of the population that is familiar with some Korean cuisine. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ukraine organized a successful 'Taste of Korea' event in 2017, and in 2018, the Embassy is making efforts to promote Korean cuisine, including a presentation of Korean cuisine at a cultural event commemorating the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics. As of 2019, Kyiv is home to two Korean restaurants run by locals and three Korean restaurants run by foreigners. Kimchi and other side dishes can also be ordered online for delivery.
K-Community
The Korean community in Ukraine is primarily a K-pop community, which began to form after 2010. Members are mainly in their late teens and early 20s, and there are more than 70 K-pop communities sharing information about Korean Wave stars and organizing events through social media and the Internet. The largest K-pop community is the BTS fanclub, which has about 3,000 members. There is also an informal translation community that translates Korean dramas and movies into Ukrainian and shares them.
Cultural events in Ukraine
People-to-people relations
Koryo-saram
A larger migration started in the 1980s when Koryo-saram from Central Asia started moving to Ukraine for seasonal agricultural work. Koryo-saram first arrived in Ukraine in the 1950s to study abroad and work, but the migration really took off in those years. The Koryo-saram population was 12,711 in 2001, per a census survey in Ukraine. ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs projects that there will be about 30,000 Koryo-saram as of 2019, including unregistered or stateless Koryo-saram, according to their estimates. The Koryo-saram organization has put the number at 15,631.
Expatriates
As of January 2020, there were approximately 612 people in Ukraine according to the Ukrainian Immigration Office (based on those staying for 3 months or longer). This includes 41 permanent residents, about 110 individuals involved in local offices and personal businesses, around 128 missionaries, about 179 international students, 97 people in Ukrainian and foreign records, and 57 people working in government agencies (such as embassies and KOTRA). On February 8, 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that there are 354 people from Korea residing in Ukraine. The Ministry also noted that the number of expatriates has been decreasing.
Russian invasion of Ukraine
Before invasion
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to upgrade the travel advisory for 12 provinces in southeastern Ukraine to Level 3 (travel recommendation) on January 25 (Tuesday) as part of strengthening safety measures for South Korean citizens. Travel advisories at Level 3 (travel recommendation) were already applied to Crimea and Donbass within Ukraine, but have now been expanded to 15 regions (Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Odesa, and Mykolaiv). The South Korean Embassy in Ukraine has contacted South Korean expatriates residing in Ukraine to check on their safety status and re-examine emergency communication networks. In addition, the embassy is securing water and emergency food supplies in cooperation with the embassies of other countries, and is also updating evacuation and support plans for expatriates in case of an emergency. On February 13, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (South Korea) decided to urgently issue a travel alert level 4 (travel ban) for all regions of Ukraine. On February 22, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an official statement. The Korean government expresses serious concern over the rising tensions regarding Ukraine. The Korean government has consistently supported Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They strongly urge parties concerned to continue seeking a peaceful solution while respecting international law and the Minsk Agreements. Additionally, the Korean government will continue to take precautionary measures, prioritizing the safety of Korean nationals in Ukraine.
After invasion
On February 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an official statement regarding the invasion of Ukraine. The Korean government strongly condemns Russia's armed invasion against Ukraine as a violation of the principles of the UN Charter, asserting that the use of force causing innocent casualties cannot be justified under any circumstances. The statement emphasizes that Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence should be respected. As a responsible member of the international community, the Korean government will support and join the international community's efforts, including economic sanctions, to curb the armed invasion and resolve the situation peacefully.
The Republic of Korea Embassy in Ukraine published an article stating that following the Korean government's announcement to provide $10 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Korea send emergency medical supplies to Ukraine on four occasions, beginning on March 8. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his deep gratitude to the Korean government for their support during a phone conversation with Korean President Moon Jae-in on March 3.
ROK Embassy in Ukraine published an article about a phone conversation between Chung Eui-yong, the Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, on April 15. They discussed the current situation in Ukraine and the Korean government's assistance to the country. Minister Chung expressed serious concerns over the reported evidence of civilian killings by the Ukrainian government and explained the support provided by Korea and its future plans. Minister Kuleba expressed gratitude for Korea's solidarity and support, and both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation after the crisis ends and the situation in Ukraine stabilizes.
ROK Embassy in Ukraine has reported that the Korean government has sent approximately 20 tons of additional humanitarian aid to Ukraine on April 19th. The aid is intended to provide assistance to the Ukrainian people and refugees who are experiencing severe crisis as a result of Russia's continued invasion. The Korean government is collaborating closely with the Ukrainian embassy in Korea to determine the specifics of the aid, and is prioritizing Ukraine's requests in selecting items. The Korean government hopes that this aid will help alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people and refugees, and has expressed its willingness to provide further assistance if necessary.
On April 18, 2023, Reuters reported that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol signaled a shift in his stance concerning Ukraine, stating that South Korea might extend its support for Ukraine beyond humanitarian and economic aid if the country comes under large-scale civilian attack. This marks the first indication that Seoul might be willing to provide weapons to Ukraine after ruling out the possibility of lethal aid over a year prior. President Yoon explained that while considering South Korea's relationship with the parties engaged in the war and the developments in the battlefield, they will take the most appropriate measures.
On June 22, 2023, South Korea's Government Policy Coordination Minister, Bang Moon-kyu, attended a conference in London focused on Ukraine's post-war recovery, pledging an additional $130 million in aid this year on top of last year's $100 million contribution. The conference convened officials from 61 countries, leaders of 33 international organizations, and approximately 400 companies to discuss support for Ukraine's reconstruction following Russia's invasion, with a strong emphasis on the private sector's role in the recovery.
Dispute
Despite ROK government's effort to Ukraine, there are some disputes that the ROK does not truly support the Ukraine. On 2023.02.01, NATO request that South Korea should consider providing arms to Ukraine, despite being a major arms exporter. Korea has promised $100 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, in contrast to the US and other NATO members who have pledged more than $100 billion in aid in the form of weapons. Additionally, a representative for the ROK Ministry of National Defense said that the nation has no plans to send direct military assistance. Nevertheless, South Korea negotiated one of its biggest ever arms deals—a multibillion dollar one—with Poland in August to deliver tanks and howitzers. Poland has been one of the main military suppliers to Ukraine. South Korean officials deny that the deal is to aid Ukraine, but rather to boost Poland’s armed forces. South Korea has also taken action to help the Ukrainian people and their refugees. South Korea sent $100 million in help to Ukraine during the first several months of the conflict, including supplies for children's immunizations, emergency medical supplies, and electrical generators. South Korea also provided $3 million worth of generators to help Ukraine manage its power challenges this winter and has taken part in a UNICEF program to help Ukrainian refugees. South Korea, however, has been reluctant to directly export arms to Ukraine. South Korea has chosen a different course of action than sending weapons directly to Ukraine. South Korea has given the go-ahead for the export of weapons or parts of weapons that are not entirely Korean in origin but do contain South Korean components. Additionally, it has reportedly agreed to sell more ammunition to Washington and has sold ammunition to the US for transfer to Ukraine.
Leaked US documents reveal a conversation between President Yoon's foreign affairs secretary, Yi Mun-hui, and the former National Security Advisor, Kim Sung-han, raising concerns about the destination of ammunition. They feared that the US might not be the intended recipient, and were also worried about a potential call from President Biden to President Yoon regarding the issue. Changing South Korea's weapons policy towards Ukraine could be seen as yielding to US pressure. In light of this, Mr. Kim suggested exploring the possibility of selling shells to Poland instead, as the speedy delivery of ammunition to Ukraine remained the United States' primary objective.
State and official visits
State and official visits to South Korea by Ukraine
State and official visits to Ukraine by South Korea
Status
Trade
Agreement in force (date of entry into force)
Consultative Body
Country comparison
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the South Korean government provided large-scale humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and also provided entry and residency assistance to some Ukrainian refugees who wanted to come to South Korea.
See also
Foreign relations of South Korea
Foreign relations of Ukraine
References
External links
Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Ukraine
Korean embassy in Kyiv
Ukrainian embassy in Seoul
Ukraine
Korea, South