President Lee Upgrades Ties with Kazakhstan After 17 Years... Signs Follow-up Agreement on 18 Million Barrels of Crude Oil

Upgraded to a "Future-Oriented Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" with Kazakhstan
Expanding Cooperation in Key Minerals and Nuclear Power
Tokayev: "Korea Has Invested $1.2 Billion in Kazakhstan" ... State Visit Invitation to President Lee Next

On September 15, President Lee Jae-myung held a summit meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan and agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a “future-oriented comprehensive strategic partnership” for the first time in 17 years. As Kazakhstan is both Central Asia’s leading oil producer and Korea’s principal trading and investment partner in the region, the two countries will significantly expand cooperation in economic security areas such as crude oil, strategic minerals, and nuclear power, while also broadening collaboration into future industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), science and technology, and smart city development.

Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, is speaking at the expanded summit meeting with President Lee Jae-myung held at the Blue House on September 15, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News.

That afternoon at the Blue House, President Lee engaged in both one-on-one and expanded summit talks with President Tokayev, who was visiting South Korea as a state guest. Their discussions spanned economic and trade relations, energy and strategic minerals, AI and science and technology, human and cultural exchanges, as well as regional and international affairs.

The two leaders elevated the “strategic partnership” established in 2009 to a future-oriented comprehensive strategic partnership after 17 years. This upgrade reflects a transformation from a cooperation framework focused primarily on trade and investment to a strategy encompassing economic security, advanced industries, science and technology, and human exchanges.

In his opening remarks at the expanded meeting, President Lee stated, “The international community is currently facing a multi-crisis era marked by geopolitical conflicts, supply chain restructuring, transnational crime, and growing energy security concerns. Now, more than ever, having reliable partners is crucial for reinforcing resilience to external shocks and ensuring a foundation for sustainable growth.”

He continued, “South Korea and Kazakhstan share a practical diplomatic orientation—expanding their external engagement and focusing on national interest and tangible results. In this regard, we share similar diplomatic goals.” President Lee highlighted Kazakhstan as “an important partner for South Korea in the field of economic security.”

The core of economic security cooperation lies in energy and strategic minerals. Following a visit by the South Korean presidential special envoy to Kazakhstan this April, the two countries signed a “Basic Agreement on Crude Oil Cooperation” to facilitate the import of 18 million barrels of Kazakh crude oil. They are also seeking ways to broaden their cooperation to jointly develop energy resources in the future.

In the field of strategic minerals, the countries agreed to connect Kazakhstan’s abundant resources with Korea’s processing and manufacturing technology by, for instance, establishing a “Center for Rare Metals Technology Cooperation” in Kazakhstan. This initiative aims to diversify sources of strategic minerals and go beyond simple imports by creating a structure that encompasses both processing and technological cooperation, as supply chain uncertainties continue to grow.

Collaboration on nuclear power will also be strengthened. Building on memorandums of understanding (MOUs) such as the “MOU on Cooperation for Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy,” the two countries will work together across the entire nuclear power value chain and expand the local presence of Korean companies. Cooperation will also extend further in renewable and clean energy conversion.

Kim Itak, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Nurlan Sauranbayev, Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, exchanged the memorandum of understanding on cooperation for the development of future aerial mobility and took a commemorative photo on the 15th at Cheong Wa Dae in the presence of President Lee Jae Myung and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. 2026.9.15 Yonhap News Agency

The scope of cooperation has also expanded to include AI, science and technology, and future industries. The two sides agreed to enhance collaboration in fields such as data, statistics, drones, and urban air mobility (UAM), and to support the establishment of “Kaz-AIST,” modeled after KAIST. Korea’s city and infrastructure technologies will also be applied to the development of the Alatau New City.

President Tokayev noted, “South Korea has invested $12 billion in the Kazakh economy so far, and many world-renowned Korean conglomerates are successfully operating in Kazakhstan.” He cited the construction of Alatau New City and the fostering of scientific and technological talent as key examples of bilateral cooperation.

Institutional mechanisms supporting Korean companies’ local activities will also be strengthened. Responding to President Lee’s request to provide Korean businesses with a stable and predictable environment, President Tokayev designated Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister to lead a “Korea Desk” exclusively in support of Korean enterprises entering Kazakhstan, affirming his willingness to provide active support.

President Lee Jae-myung and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev are attending the state visit welcome dinner held at the Blue House on the 15th. 2026.9.15 Yonhap News
Photo by Yonhap News

The two leaders emphasized that historical ties and people-to-people exchanges are also a crucial foundation for advancing bilateral relations. President Lee expressed his gratitude to the government and people of Kazakhstan for their cooperation in the 2021 repatriation of the remains of General Hong Beom-do to Korea, 78 years after his death. President Tokayev responded, “The people of Kazakhstan are well aware of General Hong Beom-do and deeply respect him, knowing him as a national hero of South Korea—a patriotic and historic figure.”

The two countries also acknowledged that the 120,000-strong Koryoin community in Kazakhstan has long served as a bridge between them. To mark the 90th anniversary of the Koryoin community’s settlement in Central Asia in 2027, they agreed to strengthen cooperation in the preservation and management of historical sites and records related to the independence movement.

People-to-people exchanges will also be expanded. With Kazakhstan being designated as a sending country under the Employment Permit System (EPS), opportunities for Kazakh citizens to work in Korea, as well as domestic SMEs’ access to the Kazakh workforce, will both increase. Through the “2026-2030 Cultural Cooperation MOU,” collaboration in content and cultural industries will be further enhanced.

Following the summit, a total of 13 agreements and MOUs were exchanged under the leaders’ attendance. These covered topics including the agreement on the elevation of relations, oil cooperation, scientific and technological talent training, the employment permit system, nuclear energy, intellectual property, urban and infrastructure development, future aerial mobility, renewable and clean energy, cultural cooperation, and the preservation of independence movement sites.

Meanwhile, President Tokayev extended a state visit invitation to President Lee for next year. The two governments will coordinate specific visit dates through diplomatic channels.

President Lee concluded, “I hope both countries will strengthen cooperation amid global uncertainties and establish new opportunities for mutually beneficial co-growth by connecting our respective strengths and potential. I also look forward to the deepening bilateral ties creating a virtuous cycle that will support broader cooperation between South Korea and the Central Asian region.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.