South Korea and Türkiye on November 24 signed three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) during a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, including a key agreement on nuclear energy cooperation. The nuclear MOU is seen as a strategic step for South Korea to strengthen its position in potential negotiations over the construction of a nuclear power plant in Türkiye’s Sinop region.
The nuclear cooperation MOU, signed by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Turkey’s Electricity Transmission Company, outlines collaboration on reactor technology, site evaluation, regulatory and licensing matters, financing, business models, and overall nuclear project execution. The agreement also includes plans to establish a joint working group to facilitate these efforts.
The South Korean presidential office noted that the MOU lays the groundwork for early-stage involvement in the Sinop project, including site assessments, and could serve as a stepping stone toward securing the contract.
In addition to nuclear cooperation, the two countries signed a separate MOU on veterans’ affairs. Under the agreement, both governments will enhance support for South Korean veterans who served in Türkiye, promote exchanges among their descendants, and establish regular interactions between South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and Türkiye’s Ministry of Family and Social Services.
South Korea’s Korea Expressway Corporation and the Korea International Cooperation Agency for Infrastructure and Urban Development (KIND) also signed an MOU with Türkiye’s General Directorate of Highways to expand collaboration in road infrastructure projects. The three organizations plan to jointly identify and advance major road construction projects, with the presidential office projecting that South Korean companies will have increased opportunities to participate in large-scale Turkish highway initiatives.
These agreements reflect growing bilateral cooperation across strategic sectors, from energy to infrastructure, reinforcing South Korea’s role as a key partner in Türkiye’s long-term development projects.
