Ecuador–South Korea relations
Ecuador–South Korea relations are the diplomatic, political, economic, and cultural relations between Ecuador and South Korea.
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1962, the two countries have developed their relationship primarily through economic and development cooperation.
History
Ecuador and South Korea officially established diplomatic relations on 5 October 1962. During the Korean War, Ecuador supported South Korea at the United Nations and provided aid in the form of food and medical supplies.
In the 1970s, South Korea began exporting fully assembled cars, and in 1976, its first export passenger car, the Hyundai Pony, was sold in Ecuador.
South Korea opened its embassy in Ecuador in 1974, and the two countries subsequently signed agreements in multiple fields. Notable agreements include a fisheries agreement in 1984 and a cultural cooperation agreement in 1985, which helped expand exchanges between the two nations.
Between the 1990s and 2000s, Ecuador and South Korea collaborated on various programs and agreements covering technology, science, agriculture, and economic cooperation, increasing both economic and social exchanges.
Since the 2000s, Ecuador has actively adopted South Korea’s economic development models and technical cooperation initiatives, leading to expanded trade, investment, and development cooperation.
The two countries began negotiations for a Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement (SECA) in 2015. These negotiations concluded in October 2023, with the agreement scheduled for official signing in September 2025, further advancing high-level economic cooperation between Ecuador and South Korea.
Diplomatic relations
South Korea has managed its diplomatic relations with Ecuador through its embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, before establishing the embassy in Ecuador. Ecuador maintains an embassy in Seoul, South Korea.
The foreign ministries of both countries hold regular high-level meetings and cooperate in international organizations and multilateral diplomatic forums.
Economic cooperation
South Korea imports crude oil, bananas, and seafood from Ecuador, while exporting automobiles, electronics, and machinery to the country.
In September 2025, South Korea and Ecuador signed the Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement (SECA).
The agreement includes the elimination of tariffs, investment protection, supply chain stabilization, and cooperation in energy and infrastructure, providing a more comprehensive framework for economic cooperation than previous free trade agreements.
Development cooperation
South Korea has concluded a basic agreement on grant aid with Ecuador and has supported development projects in transportation, energy, and public administration through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) dispatches volunteers and implements projects in education, healthcare, and technical training.
Cultural and human exchange
Based on a cultural agreement, the two countries conduct academic exchanges, university collaborations, and scholarship programs. Recently, interest in Korean language education and Korean popular culture has been increasing in Ecuador.
See also
- Foreign relations of Ecuador
- Foreign relations of South Korea
External links
Korea, South Category:Bilateral relations of South Korea