South Korea became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to recognize independence of Uzbekistan in December 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in January 1992. Bilateral relations have grown steadily since that time. Cooperation between the two nations has grown in political, economic, and educational spheres.[1]
History
South Korea and Uzbekistan formally established diplomatic relations in January 1992. Soon thereafter South Korea opened its embassy in Tashkent, and Uzbekistan opened its embassy in Seoul.[2]
Uzbek president Islam Karimov made eight official visits to South Korea, in 1992, 1995, 1999, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2015. During his visit to South Korea in 2006, Karimov was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Seoul, by then Mayor of SeoulLee Myung-bak. In 1994, South Korean president Kim Young-sam visited Uzbekistan. In 2004, President Roh Moo-hyun visited Uzbekistan. His successor, Lee Myung-bak, visited Uzbekistan twice in 2009 and 2011. President Park Geun-hye visited Uzbekistan in 2014 where she and President Karimov signed several agreements to strengthen economic and investment cooperation and technology exchange between the two countries.[3][4]
Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Karimov's wife (right) and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, 11 February 2010
In 2016, North Korea was forced to close its embassy in Tashkent and North Korean diplomats left Uzbekistan. According to KBS News, this happened due to lobbying by the South Korean government in convincing Uzbek government to terminate and curtail diplomatic relations with North Korea in the country, following the January 2016 North Korean nuclear test. There were also reports that claiming the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan would represent North Korea's interests in Uzbekistan, but these reports were not confirmed by the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan.[5][6]
In 2017, Karimov's successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited South Korea for a four-day visit, where he met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. At a ceremony of a South Korea-Uzbekistan business forum, a wide range of issues on bilateral agenda were discussed including the prospects for further development of interstate relations in political, trade-economic, financial-investment, scientific-technical, cultural-humanitarian and other spheres, exchange views on regional and international issues. During his visit, Mirziyoyev was also awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Seoul by mayor Park Won-soon.[7][8] In 2019, President Moon Jae-in visited Uzbekistan on a four-day state visit, where he met with President Miriziyoyev. Including discussions on advancing bilateral ties, President Moon addressed the joint session of Oliy Majlis and attended the opening ceremony of the House of Korean Culture and Art in Tashkent.[9]
In 2006, South Korea and Uzbekistan signed a declaration on strategic partnership, which they agreed to develop and deepen further in a new Joint Declaration signed during President Park Geun-hye's visit to Tashkent in 2014. During President Karimov's visit to South Korea in 2015, 60 documents relating to trade, investment, economic and technical cooperation and other spheres were signed, at a total worth of US$7.7 billion. In 2015, bilateral trade turnover between the countries exceeded US$1.7 billion, corresponding to 50 percent of South Korea's trade with Central Asian republics.[11]
In 2009, Korean Air Cargo took over the management of Navoiy International Airport and, under the 10-year development plan, further accelerated the modernization program. Construction of the largest air cargo terminal in Central Asia that can handle 100,000 tonnes of cargo annually using latest equipment. In August 2010, Hanjin Group, the parent of Korean Air, inaugurated the cargo terminal at Navoi, which now serves as the intercontinental logistics center from Central Asia. South Korea has been active in numerous projects and programs in different regions of Uzbekistan, including the free economic zones at Navoi and Angren.[12]
South Korea and Uzbekistan also founded the joint venture LG CNS Uzbekistan in 2015, to support the implementation of information systems and databases for E-Government in order to facilitate the mobility of people, business and government system in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan and South Korea have also agreed on training programs, under which thousands of representatives of Uzbek small and medium-size businesses annually work and receive training in Korean enterprises and companies.[15]
As of 2019, Uzbekistan is South Korea's third largest partner in emerging Europe and Central Asia, with trade reaching $2.36 billion and South Korean investment in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan exceeding $7 billion.[16][17] Uzbekistan is also the third largest training partner among countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States, after Russia and Kazakhstan. South Korea primarily exports vehicles, machinery, construction material and equipment, while Uzbekistan exports natural resources and agricultural products.[17]
In April 2019, South Korean PresidentMoon Jae-in made a state visit to Tashkent. After a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Aler Ganiev and Deputy Prime Minister of South KoreaHong Nam-ki, South Korea and Uzbekistan have agreed to work on implementing a free trade agreement to expand bilateral economic and trade relations.[17][18] In March 2020, the two countries met for a virtual conference to organize a joint study on bilateral free trade, with the feasibility study concluding in November 2020.[17]
In November 2020, South Korea and Uzbekistan met during the 13th Central Asia-South Korea Cooperation Forum in Seoul, in which they discussed the consequences and opportunities for economic cooperation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the removal of remaining barriers to trade and improving product quality and competitiveness.[16] In January 2021, the countries declared the start of discussions for a bilateral free trade agreement to be called the "Agreement for Sustainable Trade and Economic Partnership" (STEP).[19][20]
On June 14, 2024, Uzbekistan and South Korea finalized a US$196 million deal for Korea Train Express (KTX) technology to be applied in Uzbekistan. This was the first time KTX technology was exported.[21][22] As part of the deal, 42 train units capable of going up to 250km/h (160mph) were to be supplied for 1,216km (756mi) of rail in Uzbekistan. Operations were scheduled to begin in April 2027.[22]
Cultural/educational relations
Uzbekistan has invited South Korean experts to take positions as deputy minister in the ministry for development of information technologies and communications, as well vice rectors at several universities. In 2014, South Korea's Inha Universityopened a branch in Tashkent, which focuses on computer sciences and high-tech engineering and gives all courses in English.[23]
Yeoju Institute of Technology opened the Yeoju Technical Institute in Tashkent, which became the first private university in Uzbekistan. Courses include areas as architecture and urban planning, civil engineering, alternative energy, business management, tourism, international marketing, international economic relations, primary education, Korean language philology, and aesthetics and dresses’ design.[24]
In 2019, during President Moon Jae-in's visit to Uzbekistan, the Korean Culture and Art House was opened in Tashkent. There are Korean Cultural Centers in Uzbek cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Nukus.[25][26]
Koryo-saram
In the late 1930s thousands of Koreans in the Soviet Union were deported to Central Asia, supposedly to prevent further Japanese espionage. These people are now known as Koryo-sarams. It is estimated that 177,270 ethnic Koreans still live in the territory of Uzbekistan, making it the largest in Central Asia and the fifth largest in the world, after U.S, China, Japan and Canada.[27][28] The presence of these ethnic Koreans helps to strengthen ties between the two countries.[29]
A monument honoring the Koryo-saram on the 80th anniversary of their deportation from the Soviet Far East to Uzbek SSR was unveiled at Seoul Park in Tashkent. The monument was established by the Korea Culture Association and the Overseas Koreans Foundation in Uzbekistan. The unveiling ceremony of the monument was attended by Mayor of Seoul Park Won-soon and Mayor of Tashkent Rakhmonbek Usmanov. The park itself was a result of the sister city relationship between Seoul and Tashkent which was formalized in 2010. It was opened by then South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during his visit to Uzbekistan in 2009.[30]
Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev is an Uzbek politician who has served as President of Uzbekistan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan since 14 December 2016. Previously, Mirziyoyev led the government as a Prime Minister of Uzbekistan from 2003 to 2016.
Han Myeong-sook is a South Korean politician who served as the prime minister of South Korea from April 2006 to March 2007. She is South Korea's first female prime minister. She was from the United New Democratic Party (UNDP) as a member of the Korean National Assembly (representative) for Ilsan-gab, and is a graduate of Ewha Womans University in Seoul with a degree in French literature. She resigned as prime minister on March 7, 2007, and declared her presidential candidacy. But she did not succeed in the nominations. In 2008 she ran for parliament, but was not elected. However, in January 2012 she was elected leader of the main oppositional Democratic United Party (DUP) before the April legislative elections and became a member of parliament. But the liberals did not manage to defeat the ruling Saenuri Party and Han stepped down as party leader in April 2012. In August 2015, Han was convicted of receiving illegal donations and sentenced to two years in prison. Han has maintained her innocence. In 2021, she was granted special amnesty by the government and her constitutional rights were restored.
Koryo-saram or Koryoin are ethnic Koreans of the former Soviet Union, who descend from Koreans that were living in the Russian Far East.
Russia–South Korea relations or Russian–South Korean relations are the bilateral foreign relations between Russia and South Korea. Modern relations between the two countries began on September 30, 1990. Due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, relations became very tense after South Korea imposed sanctions against Russia. Russia placed South Korea on a list of "unfriendly countries", along with Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, the United States, European Union members, NATO members, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Micronesia and Ukraine.
U.S.–Uzbekistan relations formally began when the United States recognized the independence of Uzbekistan on December 25, 1991, and opened an embassy in Tashkent in March 1992. U.S.-Uzbekistan relations developed slowly and reached a peak following the U.S. decision to invade Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Relations cooled significantly following the "color revolutions" in the former Soviet republics of Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan in 2003–2005, and the Government of Uzbekistan sought to limit the influence of U.S. and other foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on civil society, political reform, and human rights inside the country.
South Korea–Ukraine relations are foreign relations between South Korea and Ukraine. Diplomatic Relations were established on February 10, 1992. South Korea has an embassy in Kyiv. Ukraine has an embassy in Seoul.
Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan relations refers to the bilateral diplomatic relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. Uzbekistan dominates southern Kyrgyzstan both economically and politically, based on the large Uzbek population in that region of Kyrgyzstan and on economic and geographic conditions. Much of Kyrgyzstan depends entirely on Uzbekistan for natural gas; on several occasions, former president of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov has achieved political ends by shutting pipelines or by adjusting terms of delivery.
Kazakhstan–South Korea relations are the international relations between Kazakhstan and the South Korea.
Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan relations refers to the relations between the neighbouring Republic of Kazakhstan and Republic of Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan has an Embassy in Tashkent and a Consulate General in Samarkand. Uzbekistan has an Embassy in Astana and have Consulates General in Almaty and Aktau.
Tajikistan–Uzbekistan relations refers to the relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Pakistan–Uzbekistan relations are the foreign relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistan and Uzbekistan are members of different international forums including the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and Shanghai Cooperation Organisationn (SCO). Pakistan-Uzbekistan Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) held on regular basis.
Bulgaria–Uzbekistan relations are foreign relations between Bulgaria and Uzbekistan. Both countries established diplomatic relations on September 12, 1992. Bulgaria has an embassy in Tashkent. Uzbekistan is represented in Bulgaria through a non resident ambassador based in Tashkent Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Diplomatic relations between Belarus and Uzbekistan were established on 21 January 1993, with the Belarusian Embassy in Tashkent being opened in February 1994. Uzbekistan also has an embassy in Minsk.
Indonesia–Uzbekistan relations was officially established on June 23, 1992. Both countries have recognized importance of each other's potential; Uzbekistan realized the strategic importance of Indonesia, home to the world's biggest Muslim population and Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, while Indonesia recognize Uzbekistan strategic importance as the gate to Central Asia, a growing economy also a potential market. Indonesia has an embassy in Tashkent, while Uzbekistan has an embassy in Jakarta. Both countries have Muslim-majority population and both are members of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
India–Uzbekistan relations are the international relations that exist between the Republic of India and the Republic of Uzbekistan. India has an embassy in Tashkent; Uzbekistan has an embassy in New Delhi.
Armenia and Uzbekistan enjoy relatively strong relations, which is sometimes viewed to be among the wealthiest relationships between Armenia and a Turkic state. Both embassies of the two nations are accredited in Moscow.
The Presidency ofShavkat Mirziyoyev refers to the tenure of Shavkat Mirziyoyev as the 2nd President of Uzbekistan. His term began on 14 December 2016, after serving as prime minister and acting president following the death of his predecessor, Islam Karimov. In accordance with the Constitution of Uzbekistan, his mandate will last until 2030, following his re-election in 2023.
Events in the year 2019 in Uzbekistan.
Latvia–Uzbekistan relations are bilateral relations between Latvia and Uzbekistan. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 3 November 1992. Both countries were Soviet socialist republic of the USSR from 1940 until 1991. Latvia has an embassy in Tashkent which is also accredited to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, and in which Estonia issues visas to Uzbeks, and Uzbekistan has an embassy in Riga which is also accredited to Lithuania. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The Korean Theatre or Koryo Theatre is a national theatre that specializes in the culture of Korea in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is operated by and associated with the Koryo-saram community: ethnic Koreans of the former Soviet Union. The theatre troupe has operated since 1932, making it the oldest still-running Korean theatre troupe in the world, including in Korea.
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