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EU
South Korea
EU Engagement Factsheet — Cooperation, Trade & Investment Portfolio
EUR 128,180M
Total EU Investment
8
Projects & Programmes
8
Active
6
Sectors Covered
Active (8)
Completed (0)
Planned (0)
EU Relationship Outlook:
Stable
/Taiwan**: Definitive anti-dumping duties were imposed by the EU on ABS plastics from South Korea an
**: No major developments concerning new joint research projects under Horizon Europe in areas like
Regional Frameworks:
Asia-Pacific
EU Cooperation Portfolio by Sector
Research & Innovation
2
EUR 93,500M
Horizon Europe — Asia-Pacific Research Cooperation
EU flagship research and innovation programme (EUR 93.5 billion global budget). Japan and South Korea associated to Pillar II. Open to collaboration with all Asia-Pacific partners.
South Korea — Horizon Europe Association (Pillar II)
South Korea associated to Horizon Europe Pillar II from 17 July 2025. Korean researchers can participate on near-equal terms with EU entities. Covers health, AI, quantum, carbon neutrality.
Education & Skills
1
EUR 26,200M
Erasmus+ — Asia-Pacific Exchanges
EU flagship education exchange programme with EUR 26.2 billion global budget 2021-2027. Over 20,000 students, academics and staff from ASEAN countries participated.
Development Cooperation
1
EUR 8,480M
Asia and the Pacific — Regional MIP 2021-2027
Regional Multi-annual Indicative Programme for Asia and the Pacific covering regional integration, connectivity, green economies, solidarity and sustainability.
Digital & ICT
2
EU-South Korea Digital Trade Agreement (DTA)
Negotiations concluded 10 March 2025. Covers cross-border data flows, privacy protection, electronic contracts, source code protection, regulatory cooperation on digital trade.
EU-South Korea Digital Partnership Council
Bilateral digital partnership with annual council meetings. Covers semiconductors/AI research, 6G, quantum technologies. Third council meeting held Nov 2025 in Seoul.
Peace & Security
1
ESIWA+ — Enhancing Security Cooperation in and with Asia
EU security project building bridges with partner countries in Asia & Indo-Pacific in four areas: counter-terrorism/P-CVE, cyber security, maritime security, and crisis management/hybrid threats. Co-funded by EC, Germany, France. Implemented by GIZ and Expertise France.
Trade & Investment
1
EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement
Comprehensive FTA in force since 2015. Most ambitious EU trade deal at time of signing. Total bilateral trade EUR 124.25 billion in 2025 with avg annual growth of 5.3%.
Funding Instruments
NDICI-Global Europe
1 project
Digital Trade Agreement
1 project
Strategic Partnership
1 project
Erasmus+
1 project
Horizon Europe
2 projects
NDICI-Global Europe / Co-funded DE+FR
1 project
FTA
1 project
SecurityStudies.info — EU Engagement Factsheet for South Korea — Generated