South Korea and Türkiye are geographically distant, yet their ties rest on a rare foundation of shared sacrifice. Türkiye was among the first countries to answer the UN call to defend South Korea in 1950, and the two peoples still regard each other as “brother nations.” But as the US–Iran confrontation, the Russia–Ukraine war and Middle Eastern instability reshape the global order, this friendship must now be matched by strategic substance.
1. The Middle East: Energy Security and Türkiye’s Position
The US–Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28, 2026 triggered Iranian retaliation and a near-blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, driving up energy prices worldwide. South Korea, which imports most of its crude oil and natural gas, is directly exposed.
Türkiye sits at the junction of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Black Sea, and as a NATO member it helps keep regional conflicts from escalating. That makes it a natural partner for diversifying Korea’s energy routes and supply chains. Both countries should expand cooperation in energy transport, ports, railways and logistics, share information, and build long-term energy security through nuclear and renewable power.
2. The Black Sea and the Eurasian Corridor
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has disrupted food, energy and maritime trade, and attacks on ships and ports keep the Black Sea volatile. Türkiye controls the Bosporus and Dardanelles under the Montreux Convention, and as a NATO member that maintains working relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, it is well placed to support de-escalation.
South Korea, a trade-dependent economy, has a direct stake in stable Europe–Asia logistics. Combining Türkiye’s geography with Korean strengths in shipbuilding, shipping, railways and construction could produce a new model of Eurasian economic cooperation.
3. Defense Industry Cooperation
Recent conflicts have underscored the value of a strong domestic defense industry. Korea’s strengths lie in tanks, artillery, missiles, naval vessels and aircraft. Türkiye’s lie in unmanned systems, armored vehicles, naval systems and aviation. The Altay tank program already shows what joint work can achieve. The next step is co-development and joint entry into third-country markets, going beyond simple arms sales. This cooperation should aim to strengthen legitimate national defense and contribute to stability, not to escalate confrontation.
4. Nuclear and Renewable Energy
Energy security is now a core part of national security. The Sinop nuclear project offers Korean firms a major opportunity and gives Türkiye a path to a more diverse, independent power supply. Cooperation should extend to renewables, hydrogen and energy efficiency, so that both countries are better insulated from shocks in the Middle East, Europe and global markets.
5. The Significance of President Erdoğan’s State Visit
President Erdoğan’s state visit to Seoul on November 2–4, 2026 builds on the November 2025 Ankara summit. Presidents Lee Jae-myung and Erdoğan discussed nuclear energy, defense, critical minerals, science and technology, and investment. They also considered upgrading the FTA joint committee to ministerial level and exchanged views on Ukraine and the Middle East, stressing diplomacy and peaceful resolution.
The key point is that the relationship is moving beyond historical and military ties toward a comprehensive strategic partnership. The two countries face different regional threats (North Korea and great-power rivalry for Seoul; the Middle East, the Black Sea and Europe for Ankara), but they share the same exposure to global instability.
6. Priorities Going Forward
- Diplomacy: hold regular consultations on the US–Iran and Russia–Ukraine conflicts and coordinate efforts to reduce tensions.
- Energy: diversify supply chains through nuclear, gas, renewables and hydrogen.
- Defense: pursue joint R&D, production and market development.
- Infrastructure: jointly develop Europe–Asia transport links, combining Türkiye’s location with Korea’s rail, port, shipbuilding and construction expertise.
- Middle-power diplomacy: deepen coordination in NATO, the G20, the UN and MIKTA, while respecting each side’s national interests.
Conclusion
South Korea should see Türkiye not only as a Korean War ally but as a NATO member with real diplomatic weight and a bridge between Europe and the Middle East. Türkiye should see South Korea as a reliable partner in industrial modernization, technology, defense manufacturing and nuclear energy. Honoring the past is not enough; the two countries should turn that brotherhood into practical cooperation in economics, security, technology and diplomacy, and in doing so contribute to peace and connectivity across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Peter Yang