Indonesia–South Korea relations


Indonesia–South Korea relations are the bilateral foreign relations between the two nations of Indonesia and South Korea. The two countries sharing a common vision, values and the will to contribute to the international community as middle powers. Both countries are members of G-20 and APEC. Indonesia and South Korea officially established diplomatic relations on 17 September 1973. South Korea has an embassy in Jakarta and Indonesia has an embassy in Seoul. According to a 2014 BBC World Service Poll, 48% of Indonesians view South Korea's influence positively, with 27% expressing a negative view.

Military Cooperation

Fast growing trade and investment enabled the two governments to agree on a strategic partnership in 2006. Indonesia and South Korea have invested in multiple joint military development projects, including the KFX/IFX fighter jet. South Korean firm Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering is in final contract negotiations to supply Indonesia with three Type-209 submarines. This will be the largest ever bilateral defense deal, valued at USD1.1 billion.

Residents

In 2012, there were about 38,000 Indonesian citizens living in South Korea.

Economy and trade

In the past, the relations were only developed around trade and investments, such as the forestry and garment sectors. Today the cooperation has been expanded to a number of mega projects and advanced industries. With US$27 billion in bilateral trade, South Korea became the fourth biggest trading partner of Indonesia in 2012. It became the third-biggest foreign investor in Indonesia, with US$1.94 billion in investment.
There are large numbers of South Korean companies that have been investing and operating in Indonesia, such as Miwon, Lotte, Yong Ma, Hankook Tire, Samsung, LG, Kia Motors, and Hyundai. In 2011, Hankook announced an US$353 million investment into a production plant located in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia.

Culture

Numerous Korean bands and artists performances, such as SMTown Live World Tour III and Music Bank World Tour, have performed in Indonesia. Korean pop culture has inspired Indonesian artists such as a male I-pop group named "S4" that has trained in Korea and has had performances there.

State visits

President Chun Doo Hwan visited Indonesia in July 1981, and in the next year President Soeharto visited South Korea in October 1982. In November 1988 President Roh Tae Woo visited Indonesia. President Kim Young Sam visited Indonesia in November 1994. Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid visited South Korea twice in 2000, on February and on October, and in the same year, President Kim Dae Jung visited Indonesia in November. President Megawati Soekarnoputri visited South Korea in March 2002.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited South Korea during an APEC Summit in November 2005. In December 2006, President Roh Moo Hyun visited Indonesia to sign a Joint Strategic Partnership between Indonesia and South Korea. President Yudhoyono visited Korea as a state guest in March 2012 and President Lee Myung-bak visited Bali to attend the Bali Democracy Forum in November 2012.

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