1. On May 22, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who is visiting the Republic of Korea to attend the 5th MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (May 21-22). The two sides engaged in a broad exchange of views on a range of issues, including substantive cooperation between the two countries in trade, investment, construction and the defense industry; cultural and consular cooperation; cooperation on the global stage; and regional situations.

2. Minister Yun Byung-se noted with appreciation that the ROK and Turkey, a traditional ally and strategic partner of the ROK, have enhanced substantive cooperation in a range of areas, including trade, investment, infrastructure construction, and the defense industry, as demonstrated by the recent conclusion of the ROK-Turkey comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA). Minister Yun offered to continue to work to further expand and deepen the close and cooperative relations between the two countries.

o Minister Yun especially requested the Turkish side’s interest and support for the participation of Korean companies with global experiences and technologies in infrastructure-building projects in Turkey so that real benefits can be brought to both countries.

o Minister Çavuşoğlu stressed that Turkey has a relationship forged in blood with the ROK and thus considers the ROK a very important partner. He especially hoped that mutually-beneficial cooperation between the two countries will further increase through the continued expansion of the ROK’s investment in Turkey and Turkey’s exports to the ROK.

3. The two Ministers took note that people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are increasing, with the number of Korean tourists visiting Turkey recording 250,000 a year and 21 direct flights being operated per week. The two sides agreed to work together to successfully host various events making the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2017 so that the events can contribute to fostering mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries and expanding cooperation in people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

o Minister Yun requested the Turkish side’s cooperation to ensure the safety of Koreans visiting Turkey, and expressed hope that exchanges and cooperation in consular affairs will further increase.

4. The two Ministers expressed satisfaction over the fact that the scope of bilateral cooperation has expanded to regional and global issues and collaboration on the global stage is also deepening. They decided to continue to closely cooperate within a range of frameworks, including the UN, the G20, and MIKTA.

o Minister Çavuşoğlu hoped that an ROK delegation will attend the G20 Summit to be held in Antalya this year and that at the Summit, the visibility of MIKTA will be further improved. Minister Yun wished the G20 Summit every success and offered to closely cooperate for that.

5. The latest meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries is the third in about one year, following a bilateral meeting held in September 2014 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and another one held in November 2014 on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. This meeting served as an opportunity to reaffirm the ROK’s close relations with Turkey, a traditional ally and strategic partner of the ROK, as well as make substantive progress in bilateral cooperation and further strengthen collaborative relations in regional and global issues.


*unofficial translation