South Korea and Turkey have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in nuclear energy and defense. The agreement was announced during a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Seoul on November 3, 2026.
President Erdogan said the newly signed nuclear energy agreements would further expand cooperation between the two countries. The agreements build on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in November 2025. That earlier agreement established the foundation for cooperation on Turkey’s planned nuclear power plant in Sinop. South Korean companies have shown interest in participating in the project.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said cooperation on the Sinop nuclear power plant project was progressing smoothly. He also highlighted another MoU aimed at helping South Korean companies secure financing for nuclear energy projects.
The two countries also plan to strengthen their defense partnership. Their cooperation will include joint production, technology sharing, and exploring business opportunities in other countries. Erdogan expressed interest in South Korea’s expertise in semiconductors and other advanced technologies. He described defense cooperation as one of the successful areas of their partnership.
Both leaders emphasized the need to increase the number of successful joint projects. Erdogan also described the nuclear energy agreement signed last year as a strong foundation for future cooperation.
Trade between South Korea and Turkey reached a record $10.7 billion in 2025. Their economic relationship has grown following the free trade agreement that came into effect in 2013.