South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are scheduled to meet in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss trade and nuclear cooperation as Turkey seeks a more balanced commercial relationship.
In an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency before the visit, Erdogan said Turkey exported $1.14 billion in goods to South Korea in 2025 and imported $10.26 billion. He called for more balanced trade and said the countries had set a $15 billion bilateral trade target, without giving a deadline.
South Korea’s presidential office said investment and defense cooperation were also on the agenda. The leaders were expected to discuss developments on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East.
In the same Yonhap interview, Erdogan suggested South Korea could partner on Turkey’s Sinop nuclear project.
The presidential office scheduled a welcome ceremony before the summit, with a ceremony to sign memorandums of understanding and a state dinner to follow.
