President Lee: "Proactive Support for Korean Firms in New Türkiye Nuclear Projects"... Seek Joint Entry into Third-Country Defense Markets

Lee Makes Joint Press Statement After Korea-Türkiye Summit

MOU Signed on Financing Cooperation for Sinop Nuclear Power Plant

Defense Cooperation to Pursue Joint Production and Entry into Third-Country Markets

Coordination to Strengthen Peace on Korean Peninsula and Stability in Middle East

President Lee Jae-myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to expand cooperation across strategic industries, including nuclear power plant construction, the defense industry, and critical mineral supply chains. They signed a financial cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support Korean companies’ participation in new nuclear power projects in Türkiye. In the defense sector, they will pursue joint production, technology cooperation, and joint expansion into third-country markets. The two leaders also agreed to strengthen strategic coordination to help establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and promote peaceful resolutions to international issues, including the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung delivers a joint press statement after a summit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Cheong Wa Dae on Nov. 3, 2026. Yonhap News Agency.

After holding a summit with President Erdogan at the Blue House on Nov. 3, President Lee announced the outcomes at a joint press conference, saying, “Building on our deep friendship and trust forged in blood, we agreed to broaden the horizons of cooperation between our two countries.” President Lee said, “We reviewed progress in implementing the agreements reached last November and held in-depth discussions on ways to further deepen the ‘strategic partnership’ between our two countries,” adding, “We will make practical cooperation in strategic areas, including nuclear power, defense, and infrastructure, even more substantive.”

Nuclear cooperation was a particularly notable area. Building on the nuclear cooperation MOU signed last year, President Lee said, “We believe that cooperation on the Sinop nuclear power plant project in Türkiye, including site assessments and the operation of a joint working group, is progressing smoothly.” He added, “Going a step further, we have signed an MOU on financial cooperation for nuclear power projects to proactively support Korean companies’ participation in new nuclear power projects in Türkiye.” The plan is to extend existing technical and practical cooperation on nuclear power plant construction to the financial sector, strengthening the foundation for Korean companies to participate in projects.

The two countries also agreed to broaden cooperation in the defense industry. In July, they held a joint defense industry and logistics committee meeting and agreed to identify new areas of cooperation based on the results of the Altay tank project. In September, they submitted a letter of intent for cooperation on naval vessels. President Lee said, “The two countries agreed to further deepen defense cooperation by expanding joint production and technology cooperation, and by jointly exploring opportunities for companies from both countries to enter third-country markets.” In road infrastructure, they also agreed to expand cooperation on major road construction projects in Türkiye, building on an MOU signed last year.

New Energy Transition Forum to Be Established... Diversifying Critical Mineral Supply Chains

President Lee Jaemyung and First Lady Kim Hyekyung, along with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and First Lady Emine Erdogan, who are visiting South Korea on a state visit, watch a taekwondo performance at the official welcoming ceremony at the Blue House on the 3rd. 2026.11.3 Yonhap News Agency

In the economic sphere, the focus was on expanding trade and reducing uncertainty for businesses. Trade between the two countries topped $10 billion for the first time in 2023, following the entry into force of the free trade agreement (FTA) in 2013, and reached $10.7 billion last year. President Lee stressed, “We will work together to resolve challenges one by one, including trade imbalances, import restrictions, and customs delays, so that companies in both countries can operate in a more stable environment.”

The two countries will also broaden cooperation in future growth industries, including biotechnology, energy, science and technology, natural resources, and mining. Based on the energy cooperation MOU signed during the visit, they agreed to establish a Korea-Türkiye Energy Transition Forum and cooperate in clean energy, hydrogen, and renewable energy. They also plan to strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), advanced communications, and advanced materials through an MOU on science, technology, and innovation cooperation, and to hold their first joint science and technology committee meeting.

Cooperation to diversify critical mineral supply chains will also gain momentum. President Lee said, “It is also an important achievement that our two countries signed an MOU on cooperation in natural resources and mining.” He added, “We will actively pursue the diversification of critical mineral supply chains by establishing a government-to-government cooperation channel in resources and mining and expanding the foundation for technological and investment cooperation between our two countries.”

In the biotechnology sector, the two countries agreed to proceed without disruption with a project to achieve self-sufficiency in blood products in Türkiye, involving SK plasma.

Agreement on Strategic Coordination to Establish Peace on the Korean Peninsula... Views Exchanged on the Situation in the Middle East

President Lee Jaemyung shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on a state visit to South Korea, at the Blue House on the 3rd. From left: Emine Erdogan, Turkish President Erdogan, President Lee Jaemyung, and Kim Hyegyeong. Nov. 3, 2026. Yonhap News

In foreign affairs and security, the two leaders agreed on strategic coordination to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and promote international stability. President Lee said, “We reaffirmed the Turkish government’s consistent support for our policy toward North Korea and agreed to cooperate to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.” He added, “As middle powers that share a rules-based international order, we will expand coordination in multilateral forums, including the United Nations, the Group of 20 (G20), and MIKTA.”

The two leaders also exchanged views on major international issues, including the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. President Lee said, “We agreed to communicate and cooperate closely to resolve conflicts peacefully and restore regional stability.”

Referring to the more than 21,000 Turkish troops who fought in the Korean War, President Lee said, “In the hearts of our people, Türkiye has a place as a blood brother, a ‘kan kardeşi.’ We will faithfully implement today’s agreements and deliver tangible results that the people of both countries can feel.”

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