1. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union Yoon Soongu signed the Horizontal Aviation Agreement between the Republic of Korea and the European Union on behalf of the ROK government in Brussels on June 25, 2020 (at 9:30, local time).

o The two sides initialed a draft agreement in October 2018. After the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, some phrases were revised and the two sides agreed on the final text of the agreement in March 2020, and this signing ceremony took place following the completion of domestic procedures for signing.

2. The agreement, which will specify the two sides’ obligations for aviation safety management and allow airlines of all EU member states to operate flights between the ROK and an EU member state that has concluded an aviation agreement with the ROK, is expected to further strengthen aviation safety and give the people of both sides more airline options.

o The agreement will also enhance the competitiveness of the ROK’s aviation industry and contribute to improving the connectivity between the two sides.

3. Based on the conclusion of the horizontal aviation agreement, the ROK will continue discussions on aviation liberalization with the EU, which has created a single aviation market, and reinforce comprehensive cooperation in aviation between the two sides, including expanding technology exchanges in the areas of helicopter production and mutual authentication of aircraft components.

o The ROK and the EU will launch the Transport Dialogue in the second half of this year, and discuss ways to cooperate in the full range of transportation sectors, including aviation and railway.