President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Seoul on Monday for a state visit aimed at advancing negotiations over Türkiye’s planned second nuclear power plant and expanding economic ties with South Korea.
Erdogan, accompanied by his wife, Emine Erdogan, landed at Seoul Seongnam Air Base, where South Korean Trade Minister Park Jung-sung welcomed the Turkish delegation.
The visit runs through Nov. 4, with Erdogan scheduled to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations, regional and global developments, and agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir are among the Turkish officials accompanying Erdogan.
Türkiye is considering South Korea as a potential partner for its planned nuclear power plant in Sinop on the Black Sea coast as Ankara seeks to expand its nuclear energy capacity.
In a written interview with South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency ahead of his visit, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Seoul as a promising partner, citing its experience in nuclear technology.
The proposed plant remains in the development stage, with no final partner or reactor technology selected.
The site received regulatory approval in April 2024, and Türkiye’s state-owned nuclear company, TUNAS, has been conducting preliminary feasibility studies with South Korea’s Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO).
The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on nuclear energy cooperation during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Türkiye last year. The agreement covers reactor technology, site assessments, licensing, financing and business models.
Erdogan stressed that Ankara would weigh power generation costs, financing arrangements and the project’s potential economic benefits before making a final decision. Türkiye is also holding talks with other countries and assessing its options in line with national interests.
The negotiations come as Türkiye prepares to bring its first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu, into operation. Built by Russia’s Rosatom, the four-reactor facility is undergoing testing, with the first unit expected to reach its initial nuclear startup stage in December 2026. All four units are targeted to operate at full capacity by the end of 2028.
Beyond nuclear energy, Erdogan expressed interest in expanding cooperation with South Korea in defense, semiconductors, robotics, artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies.
He welcomed Seoul’s interest in Türkiye’s PD170 turbodiesel aircraft engine and highlighted opportunities for joint work on unmanned aerial vehicles, engine technologies and electronic systems.
He also urged South Korean companies to expand investments and deepen partnerships with Turkish firms, particularly in joint production and technology development.
Erdogan cited Hyundai Motor Group’s automotive operations and POSCO’s steel investments as examples of existing cooperation, while welcoming Hyundai’s launch of electric vehicle production at its plant in Izmit.
He also called for closer economic ties to narrow the trade gap. Türkiye exported about $1.1 billion in goods to South Korea in 2025, while imports reached $10.3 billion. The two countries have set a bilateral trade target of $15 billion, with Ankara seeking a more balanced trade structure and greater investment.
Erdogan urged South Korean companies to invest more in Türkiye’s transportation and logistics infrastructure, citing risks to global energy markets and trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.
He stressed the need for reliable alternative routes and pointed to Türkiye’s efforts to strengthen links between Asia and Europe, including plans to revive the historic Hejaz Railway.
Turkish president added that Ankara was ready to support South Korean companies investing in regional transport and logistics projects.
Erdogan described the visit as an opportunity to turn longstanding ties into concrete economic and strategic cooperation, calling the countries’ friendship one “forged in blood” as Türkiye and South Korea prepare to mark the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year.
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