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South Korea–United Kingdom relations

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British–South Korean relations
Map indicating locations of United Kingdom and South Korea

United Kingdom
South Korea
Diplomatic mission
British Embassy SeoulEmbassy of South Korea, London
Envoy
AmbassadorColin CrooksAmbassador Kim Geon
Celebration for the 130th Anniversary of UK-ROK relations on 23 May 2013, at the British Embassy Seoul.

Therelationship between theRepublic of Koreaand theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland(Korean:한영 관계,romanized:hanyeong gwangye) spans from the 19th century to the present day. Although theRepublic of Koreagives 18 January 1949 as the date of the establishment of formal relations with the United Kingdom,[1]diplomatic ties go back to theUnited Kingdom–Korea Treaty of 1883.[2]British military participation in theKorean Warduring the 1950s was significant, but relations between the two countries at the time were described as "tenuous", with relatively little known about each other. Commercial and trade relationships grew rapidly during the 1970s. During theAsian Financial Crisisin the late 1990s,Queen Elizabeth IImade a state visit to South Korea, which was well received at a time of crisis in the country. Today, there are strong economic and diplomatic links between the two countries.[2][3]

According to a 2014BBCWorld Service Poll, 74% of South Koreans view the United Kingdom's influence positively, with 14% viewing the UK negatively. On the other hand, opinion of South Korean influence is divided in the United Kingdom, with 45% of Britons viewing South Korea's influence positively, and 45% viewing them negatively.[4]

History[edit]

Before the 1945[edit]

ThreeRoyal Navyships brieflyoccupiedGeomun Islandin 1885. The relationship between the two nations broke off during the period ofJapanese colonial rule in Koreabetween 1910 and 1945.

World War II and Korean War[edit]

After theSecond World War,South Korea established diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom on 18 January 1949. The United Kingdom and otherBritish Commonwealth Forcesfought alongside South Korea during theKorean War.Almost 100,000 British servicemen fought in the Korean war. Their most famous involvement was theBattle of the Imjin River,a confrontation with Chinese soldiers. 600 soldiers of the British Army took on a force of 30,000 Chinese troops crossing the Imjin River in Korea. At the end of the battle 10,000 Chinese troops had fallen. British losses stood at just 59 and this battle is considered a turning point in the war as it halted the Chinese advance. TheGloucester Valley Battle Monumentis a memorial for British soldiers killed at Solma-Ri, South Korea. 1,078 British soldiers died fighting in the Korean war.[citation needed]

Post War[edit]

There is a British embassy inSeouland aSouth Korean embassy in London.[3][5]The UK and South Korea cooperate in world events with other nations such as theUnited States.They have recent military relations and the UK often supports South Korea's view during periods of turbulentNorth Korea–South Korea relations.There were about 17,000South Koreans living in the United Kingdomin 2011.

In November 2016, theRepublic of Korea Air Forceconducted a domestic air combat manoeuvering exercise with the BritishRoyal Air Forceand theUnited States Air Force.This was the first such exercise with a foreign nation other than the United States.[6][7]

Military relations[edit]

On 20 November 2023,South Koreaand the UK signed the Downing Street accord which exponentially increases military cooperation between the two countries.[8]It has been proposed that the two countries should to forge an institutionalised agreement, modelled uponAnglo-Japanese Reciprocal Access AgreementandMutual Defense Treatybetween theUnited Statesand theRepublic of Korea,to build upon the Downing Street accord further.[9]

Before the Agreement of Downing Street of The Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is signed and applied,British Armed Forcesare second largest participants ofUnited Nations CommandsinceUnited Kingdomsenttheir troopsduringKorean WarasUN ForcesandKATCOM.Andrew HarrisonofBritish Armywas the Deputy Commander of UN Commands.

Economic relations[edit]

From 1 July 2011 until 30 December 2020, trade between South Korea and the United Kingdom was governed by theEuropean Union–South Korea Free Trade Agreement,while the United Kingdom was amemberof theEuropean Union.[10]Following thewithdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union,the UK and South Korea signed acontinuity trade agreementon 22 August 2019, based on the EU free trade agreement; the agreement entered into force on 1 January 2021.[11][12]Trade value between South Korea and the United Kingdom was worth £18,349 million in 2022.[13]

Both countries opened negotiations for an updatedSouth Korea–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement.[14][15]

High-level exchanges[edit]

From South Korea to the UK[edit]

From the UK to South Korea[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abMinistry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea."Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea-Europe".Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea.Archived fromthe originalon 15 July 2015.Retrieved29 April2016.
  2. ^abSir Thomas Harris, former British Ambassador to South Korea (27 June 2014)."Britain's Relations with Korea: A Personal View".Gresham College.Retrieved15 July2015.
  3. ^ab"UK and South Korea".Retrieved29 April2016.
  4. ^"Negative Views of Russia on the Rise: Global Poll"(PDF).BBC World Service.2014-06-03.
  5. ^"Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".Retrieved29 April2016.
  6. ^"'Invincible Shield' - First ever UK-US-ROK Combined Air Exercise ".RAF. 8 November 2016.Retrieved24 December2016.
  7. ^"Invincible Shield Military Drill Against North Korean Threat: US, UK, South Korea To Begin Trilateral Exercise".International Business Times.2 November 2016.Retrieved24 December2016.
  8. ^"UK and South Korea to agree new partnership to redefine and strengthen ties for next generation".GOV.UK.2023-11-20.Retrieved2024-02-18.
  9. ^"What's Next for the South Korea-UK Relationship?".The Diplomat.2023-12-07.Retrieved2024-02-18.
  10. ^"EU - Korea, Republic of".World Trade Organization.Retrieved16 March2024.
  11. ^Truss, Elizabeth (21 August 2019)."UK and Korea to sign trade continuity deal to ensure businesses are ready to trade post-Brexit".GOV.UK.Archivedfrom the original on 22 August 2019.Retrieved16 March2024.UK–South Korea FTA
  12. ^"South Korea agrees deal with UK for post-Brexit trade".Financial Times.10 June 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 11 June 2019.Retrieved16 March2024.
  13. ^"UK trade agreements in effect".GOV.UK.3 November 2022. Archived fromthe originalon 17 January 2024.Retrieved9 February2024.
  14. ^"UK and South Korea to launch talks on new trade deal as Korean businesses back Britain with £21 billion of investment".GOV.UK.21 November 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 21 November 2023.Retrieved21 November2023.
  15. ^"South Korea's Yoon to Talk AI in UK as Trade Negotiations Begin".Bloomberg.20 November 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 20 November 2023.Retrieved20 November2023.

External links[edit]

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