Diplomatic ties were established between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea in January 1992. Currently, the two countries have a strategic partnership.
Over the years, the Republic of Korea has proven to be a reliable and trusted partner for Uzbekistan. They collaborate in various areas such as education, healthcare, digitalization, green energy, and labor relations.
KOICA, or the Korea International Cooperation Agency, plays a significant role in implementing practical projects. These projects include providing equipment, training employees, and inviting Korean specialists and volunteers to Uzbekistan.
KOICA is a government agency that implements grant assistance programs and has offices in 47 countries, collaborating with 51 countries in total.
The Director of the KOICA Uzbekistan Office, Shin Myung Seop, states, “Since our establishment in 1995 with the support of the Uzbekistan government, we have worked on 45 projects and programs worth $210 million, the highest figure in Central Asia. We aim to expand our cooperation and increase the budget for technical assistance to Uzbekistan annually.”
The activities of the Representative Office align with the Official Development Assistance strategy of the Korean Government and the KOICA plan for Uzbekistan. They focus on priority areas such as education, healthcare, water resource efficiency, e-government, green economy, climate change, and volunteer and scholarship programs.
As part of the “World Friends Korea” program, 600 Korean volunteer specialists are currently working in Uzbekistan, providing expertise in the Korean language, information and communication technologies, healthcare, and sports.
In addition, 2,250 Uzbek government employees have received training through short-term and long-term programs organized by KOICA.
The Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, along with local agencies, are developing potential cooperation projects for 2025-2026. Currently, they are considering 20 proposals worth $150 million.
The strong mutual trust and friendship between the leaders of the two countries have elevated the relationship between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea to a special strategic partnership.
On June 13-15, the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, will visit Uzbekistan at the invitation of the Uzbekistan President. This visit is expected to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries.
Guzal Sattorova, UzA