Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union and Permanent Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

On Thursday, July 17, Ambassador RYU Jeonghyun attended the signing ceremony for the “Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea on the Participation of the Republic of Korea in the Union Programmes” and the “Protocol on the Association of the Republic of Korea to Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2021–2027” at the headquarters of the European Commission.

At the ceremony, Ambassador RYU and Ms. Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, signed the agreement as representatives of their respective sides. Through this agreement, Korea has become the first Asian country to join Horizon Europe, the world’s largest multilateral research and innovation programme, as an associated country. Horizon Europe is a 7-year programme (2021–2027) with a total budget of €95.5 billion (approx. 150 trillion KRW).

* Korean researchers will be eligible to apply for projects under the same conditions as researchers from EU Member States and the 19 other associated countries. If selected, they will receive research funding directly from the EU budget without a separate national evaluation.

Ambassador RYU emphasized that the agreement represents “a meaningful step forward in Korea–EU cooperation, reflecting not only our shared values but also our collective will to address global challenges together.” He added, “I hope this agreement will serve as a strong platform for connecting researchers, strengthening institutions, and fostering deeper, more dynamic cooperation that makes a real impact.”