Wong Kai Jiun, Singapore’s ambassador to Korea, linked closer South Korea ties to shared support for free trade and multilateralism at a Seoul forum, The Korea Herald reported, as both governments develop a strategic partnership.
The newspaper said Wong spoke Wednesday at the 10th Global Biz Forum, during its seventh session. It reported that Wong also cited a rules-based international order and called the countries “ready and natural partners across many sectors.”
Singapore and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1975. Their leaders announced a strategic partnership on Nov. 2, 2025, during the 50th anniversary year, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The framework connects economic cooperation and the energy transition with work on security, public-sector ties, technology research and exchanges between people. The governments said they intend the partnership to benefit businesses and people in both countries.
The relationship already includes digital trade agreements. The Korea-Singapore Digital Partnership Agreement took effect Jan. 14, 2023. South Korea joined the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement in May 2024 as its first new member after the three founding countries, Singapore’s Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry said.
South Korea formalized its participation in Green Economy Partnership Agreement negotiations on Sept. 11, 2026, its Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said. The partners expect another negotiating round in early 2027, according to a joint government statement.
The countries’ cooperation is part of a wider regional economic relationship. ASEAN’s preliminary figures show two-way merchandise trade with South Korea totaled $226.1 billion in 2025, while South Korean foreign direct investment inflows to ASEAN were $8.9 billion. ASEAN ranked South Korea as its sixth-largest trading partner and seventh-largest source of foreign investment that year.
ASEAN expects talks to upgrade its free trade area with South Korea, which began in 2026, to conclude by the end of 2027. The green-economy negotiations are expected to resume in early 2027.
