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Thirty Years of Balanced Partnership: Dimensions and Prospects of Egyptian–South Korean Relations
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Prepared by: Riham Mohamed
Researcher at the Middle East Unit
Egypt and South Korea have recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations—three decades that have solidified a unique model of balanced partnership between two nations belonging to distinct geographical and civilizational environments, yet united by a shared ambition for sustainable development and the creation of innovation-driven economies.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1995, Cairo and Seoul have successfully transformed their cooperation from traditional trade exchange into a comprehensive strategic partnership grounded in mutual interests and respect for national particularities. While South Korea seeks to expand its presence in the Middle East and Africa through reliable strategic partnerships, Egypt stands out as a pivotal ally capable of providing geographical, human, and investment depth. At the same time, Cairo views the Korean experience as a model to emulate in economic and technological transformation. Accordingly, the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations represents an opportunity to revisit the shared path and define the contours of equilibrium that may shape the future of the Egyptian–Korean partnership in the coming decade, strengthening the balance of mutual interests and deepening the bonds of cooperation between the two countries.
Political and Diplomatic Relations between Egypt and South Korea
The political and diplomatic relations between Cairo and Seoul represent a balanced model that blends stability with flexibility. Over the past three decades, both sides have succeeded in developing a solid partnership founded on strategic understanding and shared interests, reflected in enhanced political coordination and intensified high-level communication between leaders. The main features of this political and diplomatic dimension can be outlined as follows:
Mutual Official Visits: The exchange of high-level visits has served as a cornerstone in advancing bilateral relations, laying the foundation for what is now known as a “Comprehensive Partnership.” Among the most significant visits was that of South Korean President Moon Jae-in to Cairo in January 2022 — the first by a South Korean president in nearly sixteen years. During this visit, both sides affirmed their convergence of views on numerous regional and international issues, foremost among them supporting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and cooperating on global challenges such as terrorism and climate change. President Moon praised Egypt’s political weight, describing it as a “cornerstone of stability in the Middle East and Africa,” and reaffirmed that Seoul views Cairo as a strategic partner in promoting regional peace. [1]
Similarly, the visit of National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo to Cairo in October 2023 further strengthened relations through discussions on localizing Korean industries in Egypt and deepening cooperation in technology, renewable energy, and transportation. This visit complemented a series of high-level meetings — including a phone call in October 2022 between Presidents Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Yoon Suk-yeol — that focused on enhancing economic cooperation and consulting on regional and international developments.
Moreover, successive meetings between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yul, most recently in March 2024, reaffirmed the two sides’ mutual desire to elevate political and economic coordination and to expand bilateral consultation mechanisms to encompass regional security, human rights, and sustainable development. [2]
In a related context, the visit of Park Beom-kye, the Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea, to Egypt on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, underscored the continued momentum in bilateral relations — particularly as the two countries celebrated the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. The discussions focused on expanding economic and trade cooperation and building on landmark visits such as President El-Sisi’s trip to Seoul in 2016 and President Moon’s visit to Cairo in 2022.
The visit carried profound political and economic significance, reflecting Seoul’s keenness to strengthen its partnership with Cairo as a strategic gateway to Africa and the Middle East, while Egypt seeks to benefit from Korea’s advanced expertise in technology, industry, and renewable energy. It also reaffirmed the resilience of the relationship despite the complex economic and geopolitical challenges facing the world. [3]
These mutual visits thus underscore the transformation of Egypt–South Korea relations into a balanced political and economic partnership founded on mutual respect and a long-term strategic vision.
Shared Positions on Regional and International Issues: In recent years, Cairo and Seoul have demonstrated notable convergence in their views on key regional and international issues, grounded in shared principles such as respect for international law, support for political solutions to conflicts, and rejection of the use of force in international relations. This alignment has been evident in their positions within international organizations and in their increasing coordination on pressing issues in both the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula.
The Palestinian Cause: South Korea has expressed consistent support for the Palestinian cause by voting in favor of the Arab draft resolution at the UN Security Council calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and maintaining its funding for UNRWA and humanitarian aid. Egypt, in turn, has commended this principled stance, viewing it as an indicator of Seoul’s responsible foreign policy that upholds the humanitarian dimensions of conflicts. This was reaffirmed by Former Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his March 2024 call with his South Korean counterpart, praising Seoul’s role in promoting de-escalation and facilitating humanitarian assistance. [4]
The Korean Peninsula: Egypt has repeatedly voiced its support for peace efforts and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, viewing dialogue as the optimal path to ensuring regional security. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has emphasized Egypt’s commitment to the stability of East Asia, grounded in Cairo’s conviction that global security is interconnected and that threats to peace in any region negatively affect the international system as a whole.
Both nations share a commitment to addressing global development and climate challenges. South Korea played an active role in the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) hosted by Egypt in Sharm El-Sheikh, presenting initiatives to promote environmental transformation in Africa. Conversely, Egypt praised Korea’s green economy model as an inspiring example for its own environmental transition programs. [5]
Furthermore, both countries converge on issues of UN reform and multilateralism, with South Korea supporting developing countries—including Egypt’s—calls for a more representative and equitable Security Council. Within the United Nations, the two sides consistently coordinate to amplify the voice of the Global South in matters of development and peace.
The Economic Dimension of Egypt–South Korea Relations
The economic dimension represents a cornerstone of the strategic partnership between Egypt and South Korea. Over the years, their economic relations have evolved from traditional trade exchange to more complex partnerships based on production integration and technology transfer—supporting sustainable development. Both sides have recognized that the economy serves as an effective entry point to strengthen political relations and expand regional influence, particularly amid global economic transformations and the redrawing of trade and supply chain maps. The growing economic convergence between the two countries can be illustrated as follows:
Economic and Investment Partnership: Economic relations between Egypt and South Korea form one of the most robust pillars of their bilateral cooperation, having developed into a developmental partnership grounded in shared interests and a long-term vision. In recent years, South Korean investments in Egypt have grown markedly, driven by Egypt’s investor-friendly legal framework and ambitious economic reform programs that have made the country an attractive destination for leading Asian corporations.
During his visit to Cairo in September 2025, South Korean Presidential Envoy Park Beom-kye stated that trade exchange between Egypt and South Korea amounts to US$3 billion annually, while direct South Korean investments in Egypt stand at around USD 1 billion, with more than 50 Korean companies contributing to Egypt’s economy through strategic projects in sectors such as transportation and energy. His remarks—made on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations—reflect Seoul’s growing recognition of Egypt’s importance as a regional production and export hub. [6]
South Korean companies have contributed to several major strategic projects in Egypt, most notably the cooperation with Hyundai Rotem in manufacturing metro and electric train cars, and Samsung’s efforts to localize electronics production through its factory in Beni Suef, which serves African and Arab markets. In addition, companies such as LG have invested in home appliance production lines, while Doosan has focused its investments on power and water station projects. Collectively, these ventures mark Egypt’s transition from a consumption-based to a production-oriented economy built on local manufacturing. [7]
Moreover, South Korea views Egypt as a key center for its expansion strategy toward Africa and the Middle East, leveraging Egypt’s strategic location and its network of free trade agreements with both continents. Consequently, the Egyptian market serves as a major gateway for Korean products to reach a wide consumer base through frameworks such as COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
From Egypt’s perspective, the Korean development model stands as an inspiring example of achievement through technology, innovation, and global market integration. Accordingly, Egypt is working to deepen Korean companies’ presence in national megaprojects—particularly in transportation, renewable energy, and digital transformation. These efforts align with the goals of Egypt Vision 2030 for sustainable development. The South Korean ambassador in Cairo has repeatedly affirmed his country’s readiness to expand investments in Egypt, highlighting that government incentives such as golden licenses, tax exemptions, and expert support, which serve as key attractions for Korean firms, many of which have already achieved remarkable success in the Egyptian market.
Development Cooperation and Technology Transfer: Cooperation between Egypt and South Korea goes beyond economic exchange to encompass development and technology transfer, lending a distinctive character to their bilateral relations over the past decade. In 2021, South Korea selected Egypt as its strategic development cooperation partner for five years under the Korea ODA Partnership, aimed at supporting developing countries through financial assistance and technical expertise. [8]
The development cooperation portfolio between Egypt and South Korea amounts to approximately USD 1.3 billion, directed toward vital sectors such as education, renewable energy, communications, transportation, public administration, and the environment. This assistance has taken the form of concessional grants, technical training, and institutional support, contributing to strengthening Egypt’s capacity to manage development projects in line with Korean standards that combine innovation and efficiency.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) plays a key role in implementing numerous projects in Egypt, including the development of technical and vocational education, the establishment of centers of excellence within Egyptian universities and the introduction of digital transformation and e-governance programs. Through these initiatives, South Korea seeks to share its expertise in building a knowledge-based economy, while Egypt aims to leverage this cooperation to advance its strategies for modernizing its human and institutional infrastructure. [9]
The Military and Security Dimension of Egypt–South Korea Relations
In a global order that is continuously reshaped by regional arms races and shifting power dynamics across Asia and the Middle East, the military relationship between Egypt and South Korea has emerged as one of the most dynamic and forward-looking avenues of cooperation. Both nations share a strategic vision aimed at building an independent deterrence system rooted in advanced technology and balanced , rather than adherence to traditional alliances or constraints imposed by major powers. The key aspects of this military and security partnership can be summarized as follows:
Military Production and Localization of Defense Technology: Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on April 13, 1995, Egypt and South Korea have witnessed a steady evolution in defense cooperation, culminating in recent years in a remarkable leap that positioned Seoul as one of Cairo’s principal partners in modernizing its military arsenal.
Among the most notable indicators of this transformation is the $1.66 billion deal for K9A1 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, which included significant technology transfer and local manufacturing of up to 70% of the components in Egypt. This step enhanced the capabilities of the National Organization for Military Production and positioned Egypt as a regional hub for modern artillery systems. Moreover, advanced negotiations are underway for Egypt’s acquisition of FA-50 light combat and training aircraft as well as K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, as part of a broader national strategy to localize defense technology and develop indigenous industrial capacities. [10]
These deals reflect Cairo’s conviction that owning weapons must go hand in hand with owning the capacity to produce them, with technology transfer forming the cornerstone of defense sovereignty. Conversely, South Korea views Egypt as a strategic gateway to expand its defense exports into the Middle East and Africa—benefiting from Egypt’s geographic position and its network of trade agreements–making their defense cooperation a natural extension of their growing industrial partnership.
A major turning point came in October 2023, when Egypt’s Minister of State for Military Production, Mohamed Salah El-Din Mostafa, paid an official visit to South Korea to attend the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2023)—one of Asia’s largest defense expos. During the visit, he held meetings with senior military officials and executives of leading Korean defense firms to discuss potential cooperation in defense systems and simulation technologies. Korean companies were also invited to participate in EDEX 2023, the Egypt Defense Expo held that December, as part of Cairo’s effort to integrate advanced Korean technologies into its domestic defense ecosystem. [11]
Prior to that, on January 16, 2023, Minister Mostafa met with Sol Hoon, a member of the South Korean National Assembly’s Defense Committee, to review ongoing and prospective projects between the two countries’ defense industries. These included contracts with companies such as Hanwha and Poongsan for the production of howitzers and ammunition, cooperation with JST in waste recycling equipment, and projects in industrial security monitoring technologies. Discussions also extended to future cooperation in remote control systems, renewable energy technologies, industrial incinerators, and mechanized farming. [12]
The foundation for this growing partnership can be traced back to earlier institutional efforts—most notably the January 2020 meeting between the late Egyptian Minister of Military Production, Mohamed Saeed Al-Assar, and the Korean Ambassador Yoon Yeo-cheol, which laid the groundwork for joint manufacturing and technology transfer while leveraging Egypt’s African trade networks to market jointly produced defense equipment.
Security Alliance and Balance of Interests in a Turbulent Environment: The expanding defense cooperation between Cairo and Seoul reflects a shared geopolitical outlook based on strategic diversification and independence from the traditional constraints of arms politics. Egypt has sought for years to reduce its dependency on U.S. military aid, which has often been tied to political and human rights conditions. In contrast, South Korea presents itself as a technologically advanced yet politically neutral partner, maintaining strong ties with Washington while refraining from imposing political agendas-thus offering Cairo a balanced and pragmatic defense partner.