Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan begins a visit to South Korea to discuss trade, investment, nuclear energy, defence, technology and regional issues with President Lee Jae-myung, with bilateral agreements expected.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Seoul on November 2, 2026, for an official visit aimed at strengthening Türkiye’s strategic partnership with South Korea and expanding cooperation across key economic, technological and security sectors. The visit, scheduled to continue until November 4, comes at the invitation of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.
Erdogan was accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdogan and a high-level delegation comprising Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir. Defence Industries Secretary Haluk Gorgun and other senior officials are also part of the delegation.
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The Turkish president and his delegation were welcomed at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam by South Korean Trade Minister Park Jung-sung. Türkiye’s Ambassador to South Korea Fatih Yildiz and his wife, Nesrin Yildiz, were also present during the reception.
Official talks between Erdogan and Lee are scheduled for November 3. The discussions will cover the full scope of the countries’ strategic partnership, along with current regional and international developments. Both sides are also expected to sign several agreements aimed at strengthening the legal and institutional framework governing bilateral relations.
The agenda is expected to include trade, investment, nuclear energy, defence manufacturing, biotechnology, energy, science and technology. The leaders will also review the progress of cooperation initiatives agreed upon during their previous engagements and explore ways to translate existing commitments into further projects. Developments on the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East and other international issues are also expected to feature in the discussions.
The visit follows South Korean President Lee’s state visit to Türkiye in November 2025 and their meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara in July 2026. The reciprocal engagement provides an opportunity to review ongoing projects and identify additional areas for collaboration, particularly in strategic industries and emerging technologies.
Türkiye and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1957 and elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2012. Their historical ties also include Türkiye’s participation in the Korean War, during which it contributed military personnel to support South Korea. Both countries are preparing to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027.
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Defence cooperation has remained an important component of the relationship, alongside growing economic and industrial engagement. South Korea has expertise in nuclear power, advanced manufacturing and technology, while Türkiye has been expanding its defence production and industrial capabilities. The discussions are expected to explore opportunities to connect these areas through bilateral projects and institutional cooperation.