This year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Africa and Korea.
On December 1, 1992, two years after former president Nelson Mandela’s release from jail, official diplomatic ties were established between the two nations.
However, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) claims that the first recorded interaction occurred during the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953.
The 2nd Fighter Squadron of the then-South African Air Force (SAAF), which consisted of 826 South Africans who fought in Korea with 36 losses, was part of South Africa’s commitment to the United Nations Command at the time.
In Brooklyn, Pretoria, a part of the new Korean Cultural Centre honors the lost soldiers.
DIRCO claims that all areas of diplomatic co-operation between South Africa and Korea have improved.
The two countries have signed 16 bilateral agreements since their diplomatic ties were established.
These encompass industries including aviation, investment protection, avoiding double taxation, research and technology, criminal justice cooperation, extradition, information and communication technology, career training, and energy.
“The economies of South Africa and Korea are complimentary, and their economic ties are generally positive. Demand for consumer items in South Africa and for raw resources in Korea are what fuel the partnership.
The major trade partner of Korea in Africa, according to DIRCO, is South Africa.
South Africa’s fourth-largest commercial partner in Asia is Korea.
A total of R31.27 billion in capital was invested in 15 foreign direct investment projects in Korea between 2003 and 2019.
Additionally, overall commerce between South Africa and the East Asian country reached R47 billion in 2021, with R31 billion in exports to Korea and R16 billion in imports.
This represents a positive trade balance of R18 billion, according to the department.
Furthermore, both nations have traumatic history marred by war, bloodshed, and exploitation.
However, the department emphasized that today they commemorate the two nations’ adherence to common universal principles, with freedom serving as the most significant one.
“South Africa likewise yearly commemorates the end of apartheid rule and of accomplishing our long, hard battle to attain freedom and democracy since 1994,” said a spokesperson. “As Korea recently recognized the 1945 end of colonial control on the Korean Peninsula.
In 1995, the late President Nelson Mandela visited Korea on a state visit, while in July 2011, the late President Lee Myung-bak visited South Africa for an IOC meeting.
In March 2012, former president Jacob Zuma traveled to Korea to take part in a nuclear summit.
Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Moon Jae-in met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Argentina on December 1 to talk about a variety of bilateral relations-related topics.
Through beneficial knowledge and skill transfer programs in a variety of fields of expertise, Korea has also played a significant role in helping South Africa, while the South African population in Korea is mostly made up of graduates who teach English at schools around the nation.
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