Foreign relations of South Korea


maintains diplomatic relations with 191 countries. The country has also been a member of the United Nations since 1991, when it became a member state at the same time as North Korea. South Korea has also hosted major international events such as the 1988 Summer Olympics and 2002 World Cup Soccer Tournament and the 2011 IAAF World Championships Daegu South Korea. Furthermore, South Korea had hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics which took place in Pyeongchang, South Korea from 9 to 25 February.
South Korea is a member of the United Nations, WTO, OECD/DAC, ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit, and G-20. It is also a founding member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the East Asia Summit.
On January 1, 2007, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon assumed the post of UN Secretary-General, serving in that post until December 31, 2016.

Inter-Korean relations

Inter-Korean relations may be divided into five periods. The first stage was between 1972 and 1973; the second stage was Pyongyang North Korea's delivery of relief goods to South Korea after a typhoon caused devastating floods in 1984 and the third stage was the exchange of home visits and performing artists in 1985. The fourth stage, activated by Nordpolitik under Roh, was represented by expanding public and private contacts between the two Koreas. The fifth stage was improved following the 1997 election of Kim Dae-jung. His "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea set the stage for the historic June 2000 Inter-Korean summit.
The possibility of Korean reunification has remained a prominent topic. However, no peace treaty has yet been signed with the North. In June 2000, a historic first North Korea-South Korea summit took place, part of the South Korea's continuing Sunshine Policy of engagement. Since then, regular contacts have led to a cautious thaw. President Kim was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for the policy.
With that policy, continued by the following administration of president Roh Moo-hyun, economic ties between the two countries have increased, humanitarian aid has been sent to North Korea and some divided families have been briefly reunited. Military ties remain fraught with tension, however, and in 2002 a brief naval skirmish left four South Korean sailors dead, leaving the future of the Sunshine policy uncertain. The North Korea cut off talks but the South remained committed to the policy of reconciliation and relations began to thaw again. The resurgence of the nuclear issue two years later would again cast relations in doubt, but South Korea has sought to play the role of intermediary rather than antagonist, and economic ties at the time seemed to be growing again.
Despite the Sunshine Policy and efforts at reconciliation, the progress was complicated by North Korean missile tests in 1993, 1998, 2006 and 2009., relationships between North Korea and South Korea were very tense; North Korea had been reported to have deployed missiles, Ended its former agreements with South Korea and threatened South Korea and the United States not to interfere with a satellite launch it had planned.
As of 2009 North Korea and South Korea are still opposed and share a heavily fortified border.
On May 27, 2009 North Korea media declared that the armistice is no longer valid due to the South Korean government's pledge to "definitely join" the Proliferation Security Initiative. To further complicate and intensify strains between the two nations, the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in March 2010, killing 46 seamen, is as of May 20, 2010 claimed by a team of researchers around the world to have been caused by a North Korean torpedo, which the North denies. South Korea agreed with the findings from the research group and president Lee Myung-bak declared in May 2010 that Seoul would cut all trade with North Korea as part of measures primarily aimed at striking back at North Korea diplomatically and financially. As a result of this, North Korea severed all ties and completely abrogated the previous pact of non aggression.
In November 2010, Unification Ministry officially declared the Sunshine Policy a failure, thus bringing the policy to an end. On November 23, 2010, North Korean artillery shelled Yeonpyeong with dozens of rounds at Yeonpyeong-ri and the surrounding area.

Free trade agreements

South Korea has the following trade agreements:
As of late 2016 states of Central America, GCC, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, MERCOSUR, Mexico, Mongolia, RCEP, Russia, SACU and Korea-China-Japan are in negotiations about the FTA with South Korea.

China (PRC)

Active South Korean-Chinese people-to-people contacts have been encouraged. Academics, journalists and particularly families divided between South Korea and the People's Republic of China were able to exchange visits freely in the late 1980s. Nearly 2 million ethnic Koreans especially in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province of northeast china have interacted with South Koreans.
Trade between the two countries continued to increase nonetheless, Furthermore, China has attempted to mediate between North Korea and the United States and between North Korea and the State of Japan also initiated and promoted tripartite talks—between Pyongyang Seoul and Washington United States of America.
South Korea had long been an ally of Taiwan. Diplomatic ties between Seoul and Taipei were nevertheless severed in 1992. Formal diplomatic relations were established between Seoul and Beijing on August 24, 1992.
In 2004 the PRC government began the Northeast Project, sparking a massive uproar in South Korea when the project was widely publicized.
After the KORUS FTA was finalized on June 30, 2007 the Chinese government has immediately begun seeking an FTA agreement with South Korea. The FTA between South Korea and China are under discussion South Korea has been running a trade surplus with China which hit a record US$32.5 billion in 2009.

Taiwan (ROC)

On 23 August 1992, the government of the Republic of China severed diplomatic relations with South Korea in advance of its announcement of formal recognition of the People's Republic of China based in Beijing. The Yonhap News said in 2002 that since then relations between the two governments have been "in a rut".

Japan

The relation between South Korea and Japan has both political conflicts and economic intimacies. Examples of conflicts include the East sea naming dispute, visits by successive Japanese Prime Ministers to the Yasukuni Shrine and the disputed ownership of Dokdo of the island Korea.
On January 18, 1952 The first president of South Korea Syngman Rhee declared that the vicinity of Dokdo was a territory of South Korea. Subsequently, some 3,000 Japanese fishermen who conducted fishery operations in this vicinity were captured. This incident, called the Dai Ichi Daihoumaru Ship case strained relations between South Korea and Japan.
June 22, 1965, The president in South Korea Park Chung-hee concluded the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and South Korea As a result, Japan considered South Korea to be the legitimate successor of its rule over the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea's trade with Japan was US$892.1 million in 2008, with a surplus of nearly US$327.1 million on the Japanese side. Japanese and South Koreans firms often had interdependent relations, which gave Japan advantages in South Korea's growing market.
In 1996 FIFA announced that the South Korea-Japan would jointly host the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The next few years would see leaders of both countries meet to warm relations in preparations for the games. The year 2005 was designated as the "Japan-South Korea Friendship Year".
However, the Liancourt Rocks controversy erupted again when Japan's Shimane prefecture declared "Takeshima Day", inciting mass demonstrations in South Korea.

Mongolia

Both countries established diplomatic relations on March 26, 1990. South Korea has an embassy in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia. Mongolia has an embassy in Seoul.

North Korea

According to a 2013 BBC World Service Poll, 3% of South Koreans view the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's influence positively, with 91% expressing a negative view. A 2015 government-sponsored poll revealed that 41% of South Koreans consider North Korea to be an enemy, with negative views being more prevalent among younger respondents. Still, in a 2017 poll, 58% of South Koreans said they don't expect another war to break out with North Korea.

Philippines

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties on 3 March 1949, the relationship between the Philippines and South Korea has flourished. The Philippines was one of the first countries that extended diplomatic recognition to South Korea. This was cemented with the Philippine government's deployment of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea to help South Korea against the invasion of the communist North during the Korean War in the 1950s. After the war, the Philippines provided development assistance to South Korea and helped the country rebuild itself.
Since then, the Philippines's relations with South Korea have evolved with South Korea becoming one of the Philippines's most important bilateral partners aside from the United States, China and Japan. The Philippines's government seeks to cultivate strategic ties with South Korea given its increasing presence in the country. In the coming years, the Philippines anticipates to benefit from exploring unprecedented opportunities from South Korea that shall contribute significantly to the country's trade and economy, defense and security, and society and culture.

Russia

In the 1980s South Korean president Roh Tae Woo's Nordpolitik and Mikhail Gorbachev's "New Thinking" were both attempts to reverse their nations' recent histories. Gorbachev had signaled Soviet interest in improving relations with all countries in the Asia-Pacific region including South Korea as explained in his July 1986 Vladivostok and August 1988 Krasnoyarsk speeches.
In initiating Nordpolitik Roh's confidential foreign policy adviser was rumored to have visited Moscow Russia to consult with Soviet policymakers. Kim Young Sam visited Moscow Russian Federation from June 2 to June 10, 1989 as the Kremlin announced that it would allow some 300,000 Soviet-South Koreans who had been on the Soviet island of Sahkalin since the end of World War II to return permanently to South Korea. Moscow even arranged Kim's meeting with the North Korean ambassador to the Soviet Union In June 1990, Roh held his first summit with president Gorbachev in San Francisco, United States.
South Korea and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations on September 30, 1990. These relations continued by the Russian Federation on December 27, 1991. Russian president Vladimir Putin visited Seoul in February 2001 while South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun visited Moscow Russia in September 2004.
Russian Federal Space Agency and the Korean Astronaut Program cooperated together to send South Korea's first astronaut into space. Yi So-Yeon became the first South Korean national as well as the third woman to be the first national in space on 8 April 2008 when Soyuz TMA-12 departed from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Since the 1990s there has been greater trade and cooperation between the Russian Federation and South Korea. The total trade volume between South Korea and Russia in 2003 was 4.2 billion US dollars.

United Kingdom

The establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and South Korea began on 18 January 1949.
From South Korea to the United Kingdom:
From the United Kingdom to South Korea:
The United States engaged in the decolonization of Korea from Japan after World War II. After three years of military administration by the United States, the South Korean government was established. Upon the onset of the Korean War, U.S. forces were sent to defend South Korea against invasion by North Korea and later China. Following the Armistice, South Korea and the U.S. agreed to a "Mutual Defense Treaty", under which an attack on either party in the Pacific area would summon a response from both.
In 1968, South Korea obliged the mutual defense treaty, by sending a large combat troop contingent to support the United States in the Vietnam War. The U.S. Eighth Army, Seventh Air Force, and U.S. Naval Forces Korea are stationed in South Korea. The two nations have strong economic, diplomatic, and military ties, although they have at times disagreed with regard to policies towards North Korea, and with regard to some of South Korea's industrial activities that involve usage of rocket or nuclear technology. There had also been strong anti-American sentiment during certain periods, which has largely moderated in the modern day.
Since the late 1980s, the country has instead sought to establish an American partnership, which has made the Seoul-Washington relationship subject to severe strains. Trade had become a serious source of friction between the two countries. In 1989, the United States was South Korea's largest and most important trading partner and South Korea was the seventh-largest market for United States goods and the second largest market for its agricultural products.
From Roh Tae-woo's administration to Roh Moo Hyun's administration, South Korea sought to establish a U.S. partnership, which has made the Seoul-Washington relationship subject to some strains. In 2007, a free trade agreement known as the Republic of Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement was reportedly signed between South Korea and the United States, but its formal implementation has been repeatedly delayed, pending further approval by the legislative bodies of the two countries.
The relations between the United States and South Korea have greatly strengthened under the Lee Myung-bak administration. At the 2009 G-20 London summit, U.S. President Barack Obama called South Korea "one of America's closest allies and greatest friends."
with U.S. President Donald Trump in November 2017
However, some anti-American sentiment in South Korea still exists; The United States' alleged role in the May 1980 Gwangju uprising was a pressing South Korean political issue of the 1980s. Even after a decade, some Gwangju citizens and other South Koreans still blamed the United States for its perceived involvement in the bloody uprising. In 2008, the protests against U.S. beef was a center of a major controversy that year.
In a June 2010 open letter from President of South Korea Lee Myung-bak published in the Los Angeles Times, he expressed gratitude for the 37,000 Americans who were killed in the Korean War defending South Korea, saying that they fought for the freedom of South Koreans they did not even know. He stated that thanks to their sacrifices, the peace and democracy of the South Korean state was protected.
The U.S. states that "The Alliance is adapting to changes in the 21st Century security environment. We will maintain a robust defense posture, backed by allied capabilities which support both nations' security interests We will continue to deepen our strong bilateral economic, trade and investment relations In the Asia-Pacific region we will work jointly with regional institutions and partners to foster prosperity, keep the peace, and improve the daily lives of the people of the region The United States and South Korea will work to achieve our common Alliance goals through strategic cooperation at every level."

European Union

The European Union and South Korea are important trading partners, having negotiated a free trade agreement for many years since South Korea was designated as a priority FTA partner in 2006. The free trade agreement has been approved in September 2010, following Italy's conditional withdrawal of its veto of the free trade agreement. The compromise made by Italy was that free trade agreement would take provisional effect on July 1, 2011. South Korea is the EU's eighth largest trade partner and the EU has become South Korea's second largest export destination. EU trade with South Korea exceeded €65 billion in 2008 and has enjoyed an annual average growth rate of 7.5% between 2004 and 2008.
The EU has been the single largest foreign investor in South Korea since 1962 and accounted for almost 45% of all FDI inflows into South Korea in 2006. Nevertheless, EU companies have significant problems accessing and operating in South Korea market due to stringent standards and testing requirements for products and services often creating barriers to trade. Both in its regular bilateral contacts with South Korea and through its FTA with South Korea The EU is seeking to improve this situation.

Diplomatic relations

Americas

Asia

Oceania

Europe

Middle East and Africa

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
January 15, 1990See Algeria–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Algeria and South Korea began on January 15, 1990.
January 6, 1992See Angola–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Angola and South Korea began on January 6, 1992.
    • April 17, 1976See Bahrain–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Bahrain and South Korea began on April 17, 1976.
    • August 1, 1961See Benin–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Benin and South Korea began on August 1, 1961.
    • April 18, 1968See Botswana–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Botswana and South Korea began on April 18, 1968.
    • April 20, 1962See Burkina Faso–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and South Korea began on April 20, 1962.
    • October 3, 1993See Burundi–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Burundi and South Korea began on October 3, 1993.
    • August 10, 1961See Cameroon–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Cameroon and South Korea began on August 10, 1961.
    • October 3, 1988See Cape Verde–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Cape Verde and South Korea began on October 3, 1988.
    • September 5, 1963See Central African Republic–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Central African Republic and South Korea began on September 5, 1963.
    • August 6, 1961See Chad–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Chad and South Korea began on August 6, 1961.
    • February 19, 1979See Comoros–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Comoros and South Korea began on February 19, 1979.
    • June 16, 1990See Republic of Congo–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of the Congo and South Korea began on June 16, 1990.
  • The Republic of Congo and South Korea re-established diplomatic relations in 1990.
    • April 1, 1963See Democratic Republic of the Congo–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Korea began on April 1, 1963.
  • DRC has an embassy in Seoul current ambassador is Christophe Ngwey.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Kinshasa, current ambassador is Kim Sung-chul.
  • DRC President Joseph Kabila visited Seoul in March 2010.
  • DRC Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito visited Seoul in November 2010.
    • December 7. 1977
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Djibouti and South Korea began on December 7, 1977.
    • April 13, 1995See Egypt–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and South Korea began on April 13, 1995.
    • September 14, 1979See Equatorial Guinea–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Equatorial Guinea and South Korea began on September 14, 1979.
    • May 24, 1993See Eritrea–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Eritrea and South Korea began on May 24, 1993.
    • December 23, 1963See Ethiopia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and South Korea began on December 23, 1963.
    • October 1, 1962See Gabon–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Gabon and South Korea began on October 1, 1962.
    • April 21, 1965See Gambia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Gambia and South Korea began on April 21, 1965.
    • November 14, 1977See Ghana–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Ghana and South Korea began on November 14, 1977.
    • August 28, 2006See Guinea–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Guinea and South Korea began on August 28, 2006.
    • December 22, 1983See Guinea-Bissau–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Guinea-Bissau and South Korea began on December 22, 1983.
    • October 23, 1962See Iran–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and South Korea began on October 23, 1962.
  • Iran has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Tehran, Iran.
  • South Korea's Investment in Iran 54 million US dollars.
  • The number of South Koreans living in Iran in 2012 was about 506.
    • July 7, 1989See Iraq–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Iraq and South Korea began on July 7, 1989.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2012
  • * Exports 1.9 billion US dollars.
  • * Imports 10.2 billion US dollars.
  • The number of South Koreans living in Iraq in 2013 was about 950.
    • April 10, 1962See Israel–South Korea relations
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 April 1962.
  • Since August 1968 the State of Israel has an embassy in Seoul.
  • In February 1978 the State of Israel closed its embassy in Seoul it was reopened in January 1992.
  • Since December 1993, South Korea has an embassy in Tel Aviv State of Israel.
  • The State of Israel has a Working Holiday Program Agreement with the Republic of Korea
    • July 23, 1961See Ivory Coast–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Ivory Coast and South Korea began on July 23, 1961.
  • Since 1966 South Korea has an embassy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
    • July 26, 1962See Jordan–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Jordan and South Korea began on July 26, 1962.
    • February 7, 1964See Kenya–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kenya and South Korea began on February 7, 1962.
    • June 11, 1979See Kuwait–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the State of Kuwait and South Korea began on June 11, 1979.
    • February 12, 1981See Lebanon–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Lebanon and South Korea began on February 12, 1981.
    • December 7, 1966See Lesotho–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Lesotho and South Korea began on December 7, 1966.
    • March 18, 1964See Liberia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Liberia and South Korea began on March 18, 1964.
    • December, 1980See Libya–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Libya and South Korea began in December 1980.
    • June 25, 1962See Madagascar–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Madagascar and South Korea began on June 25, 1962.
    • March 9, 1965See Malawi–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Malawi and South Korea began on March 9, 1965.
    • September 27, 1990See Mali–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republique du Mali and South Korea began on September 27, 1990.
    • July 30, 1963See Mauritania–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and South Korea began on July 30, 1963.
    • July 3, 1971See Mauritius–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Mauritius and South Korea began on July 3, 1971.
    • July 6, 1962See Morocco–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and South Korea began on July 6, 1962.
    • August 11, 1993See Mozambique–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Mozambique and South Korea began on August 11, 1993.
    • March 21, 1990See Namibia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Namibia and South Korea began on March 21, 1990.
    • July 27, 1961See Niger–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republique du Niger and South Korea began on July 27, 1961.
    • February 22, 1980See Nigeria–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and South Korea began on February 22, 1980.
    • March 28, 1974See Oman–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and South Korea began on March 28, 1974.
    • No RelationsSee Palestine–South Korea relations
  • South Korea has not established diplomatic relations with Palestinian National Authority. South Korea acknowledges the Palestinian National Authority as the sole representative of Palestine but does not recognize the "State of Palestine" as an independent state.
    • April 18, 1974See Qatar–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the State of Qatar and South Korea began on April 18, 1974.
    • March 21, 1963See Rwanda–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Rwanda and South Korea began on March 21, 1963.
    • No RelationsSee Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic–South Korea relations
  • The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and the Republic of Korea has not established diplomatic relations.
    • August 20, 1988See São Tomé and Príncipe–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe and South Korea began on August 20, 1988.
    • October 16, 1962See São Tomé and Príncipe–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and South Korea began on October 16, 1962.
    • October 19, 1962See Senegal–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Senegal and South Korea began on August 19, 1962.
    • June 28, 1976See Seychelles–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Seychelles and South Korea began on June 28, 1976.
    • June 25, 1962See Sierra Leone–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Sierra Leone and South Korea began on June 25, 1962.
    • September 25, 1987See Somalia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Somalia and South Korea began on September 25, 1987.
    • December 1, 1992See South Africa–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of the current spate of diplomatic relations between South Africa and South Korea started on December 1, 1992. South Korea had previously had diplomatic relations South Africa from 1961 until 1978, when they were discontinued after United Nations Security Council Resolution 418, which was passed in protest of apartheid.
  • During the Korean War, South Africa sent over the 2 Squadron SAAF to offer military cooperation with South Korea.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
  • South Africa has an embassy in Seoul.
    • See South Sudan–South Korea relations
    April 13, 1977See Sudan–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Sudan and South Korea began on April 13, 1977.
    • November 6, 1968See Swaziland–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Swaziland and South Korea began on November 6, 1968.
    • No RelationsSee Syria–South Korea relations
  • South Korea has not established diplomatic relations with the Syrian Arab Republic. Syria has refused to make one because of our relations with the State of Israel.
    • April 30, 1992See Tanzania–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Republic of Tanzania and South Korea began on April 30, 1992.
    • July 26, 1963See Togo–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republique du Togo and South Korea began on July 26, 1963.
    • March 1969See Tunisia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tunisia and South Korea began in March 1969.
    • June 18, 1980See United Arab Emirates–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and South Korea began on June 18, 1980.
    • 26 March 1963See Uganda–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Uganda and South Korea began on March 26, 1963.
    • August 22, 1985See Yemen–South Korea relations
  • August 22, 1985 and May 17, 1990
    • September 4, 1990See Zambia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Zambia and South Korea began on September 4, 1990.
    • November 18, 1994See Zimbabwe–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Zimbabwe and South Korea began on November 18, 1994.

    • No diplomatic relations

    South Korea does not currently have any diplomatic relations with the following nations.
    There are also no diplomatic relations with several unrecognized territories: