Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Yonhap News Agency that South Korea could partner on Turkey's planned Sinop nuclear plant, as Ankara weighs the project's costs and potential benefits to the country.
In a written interview published Monday, Erdogan said Turkey and state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) had carried out early feasibility work on the Black Sea plant. Turkey was still examining the technical requirements and economic case, he said.
Ankara would assess the cost of producing electricity, financing options and expected benefits to Turkey when selecting a partner, Erdogan said. He added that the government was weighing other countries and alternatives. No partner has been selected, and the interview announced neither a project cost nor financing terms.
Erdogan described South Korea as a “great potential collaborator on this initiative.” He also listed defense, semiconductors, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) as areas for closer ties. On defense, he welcomed South Korean interest in Turkey's PD170 turbodiesel aircraft engine and pointed to possible joint work involving unmanned aerial vehicles, engine technologies and electronic systems.
The president said the two countries had set a $15 billion bilateral trade-volume target. He called for a more balanced trade relationship but gave no deadline for reaching the target.
On Nov. 24, 2025, Türkiye Nuclear Energy Inc. (TÜNAŞ) and KEPCO signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on Nuclear Energy Cooperation.” Türkiye's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said it covered technical information and know-how sharing, as well as joint work on nuclear plant development, site evaluation and project financing.
South Korea's presidential office said President Lee Jae Myung and Erdogan are due to meet Nov. 3. The agenda is expected to include trade and investment, nuclear and defense cooperation, and future industries. The office also announced a memorandum-signing ceremony but did not specify what the memorandum would cover.
