Political Relations
The Republic of Korea recognized the Independence of Uzbekistan on December 30, 1991. The diplomatic relations were established on January 29, 1992.
During this period, 16 summits of the leaders of the two states has taken place (in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2006, twice in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 and in 2019).
In 2006, the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership was signed.
In 2019, bilateral relations were upgraded to the level of “Special Strategic Partnership.”
Following the results of the State visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Republic of Korea (on November 22-25, 2017) over 20 interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements, as well as 64 documents of total worth above 10 billion USD were signed.
As a result of the state visit of the President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-In to the Republic of Uzbekistan (on April 18-21, 2019) 17 bilateral agreements, as well as a package of documents worth of 12 billion USD were signed.
In the framework of inter-parliamentary cooperation in 1995 the Parliamentary Friendship Association “Korea - Uzbekistan” was formed at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
Since 2005, the Inter-Parliamentary Group of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan has been cooperating with the National Assembly (headed by the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate S. Safoev).
In September 2017, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Chung Sye Kyun paid a visit to Uzbekistan.
In February 2018, Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan N.Ismailov has paid an official visit to the Republic of Korea, as a result of which a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed with the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
In August 2019, the visit of parliamentary delegation headed by the Chairwoman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis T.K. Narbayeva to the Republic of Korea was organized. During the visit, a meeting with the President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-In was organized.
At the level of governmental delegations, Uzbekistan was visited by: in 2018 – Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Kim Dong-yeon (February), Minister of Personnel Management Kim Pan Suk (March), Minister of Justice Park Sang-ki (February), Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Sung Yun-Mo (March), Minister of Legislation Kim Oe-sook (April).
In cooperation with Ministry of Foreign Affairs starting from 1995, political consultations are held on regular basis at the level of deputy foreign ministers. The 13th round was held on March 11, 2019 in Tashkent.
On April 17-18, 2018 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Kang Kyung-wha paid an official visit to Uzbekistan.
Since November 2007, the annual Republic of Korea (ROK) – Central Asia Cooperation Forum is being held with the purpose of developing regional interaction in trade, economic, investment, transport, cultural and humanitarian fields. The 12th Forum at the level of ministers of foreign affairs took place in October, 2019 in the city of Nur-Sultan.
Treaty and legal basis of cooperation
Between two states 180 bilateral documents has been signed (excluding documents signed between business entities), which are:
International interstate and intergovernmental agreements – 59
International interdepartmental agreements – 76
Other documents – 45 (joint statements, declarations, protocol meetings of intergovernmental committees and etc.)
