Has South Korea found its firm foothold in Central Europe?
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61989592%3A15210%2F25%3A73628936" target="_blank" >RIV/61989592:15210/25:73628936 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://ceias.eu/has-south-korea-found-its-firm-foothold-in-central-europe/" target="_blank" >https://ceias.eu/has-south-korea-found-its-firm-foothold-in-central-europe/</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
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Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Has South Korea found its firm foothold in Central Europe?
Original language description
This article examines South Korea’s growing economic and strategic engagement with Central Europe, particularly with the Visegrád Group (V4) countries. Amid increasing global uncertainties, European nations seek new security and economic partners, with South Korea emerging as a key player. The Czech Republic’s 2024 decision to award a nuclear power contract to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Company (KHNP) and Poland’s extensive defense agreements with Seoul exemplify this trend. South Korea's engagement with the V4 countries is shaped by historical ties, mutual economic benefits, and geopolitical factors. The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the EU and South Korea, along with individual strategic partnerships with Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia, has fostered deeper economic and technological cooperation. South Korean investments in the region, particularly in electric vehicles and defense industries, further solidify its presence. While the V4 countries serve as an attractive gateway for South Korean businesses into the EU, cooperation remains primarily bilateral rather than a cohesive subregional strategy. The article concludes that South Korea’s presence in Central Europe is likely to expand, particularly in defense and energy, making the region a potential bridge for stronger EU-South Korea relations.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
O - Miscellaneous
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
50601 - Political science
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
R - Projekt Ramcoveho programu EK
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů