Rwanda–South Korea relations

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Rwanda–South Korea relations refer to the diplomatic and bilateral relations between Rwanda and South Korea. Since the establishment of official diplomatic relations in 1963, friendly relations between the two countries have gradually expanded, particularly in the fields of politics, economic cooperation, and development cooperation.

Rwanda regards South Korea as an important partner, while South Korea views Rwanda as a strategic partner for development and economic cooperation.

History

Rwanda and South Korea first established official diplomatic relations on 21 March 1963. In 1972, South Korea opened an embassy in Kigali to strengthen bilateral ties, but it was temporarily closed in 1975 due to various circumstances.

The diplomatic mission was re-established in 1987, but it was withdrawn in November 1990. Following this, the South Korean embassy in Tanzania temporarily had jurisdiction over Rwanda.

In May 2011, South Korea resumed diplomatic activities in Kigali as a branch under the embassy in Tanzania, and in February 2012, it was officially upgraded to a full embassy in Rwanda.

Rwanda opened its embassy in Seoul in 2009, providing a direct channel for diplomatic communication and further strengthening bilateral cooperation.

In June 2024, Rwandan President Paul Kagame visited South Korea to attend the 2024 South Korea–Africa Summit held in Seoul. The summit was convened with the aim of strengthening cooperation between South Korea and African countries, and was attended by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and numerous other international leaders. During his visit, President Kagame visited Yonsei University, where he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree. On this occasion, he expressed his commitment to expanding educational and development cooperation between South Korea and Rwanda, emphasizing the potential for deepening bilateral relations.

In July of the same year, the two countries signed a development loan agreement worth USD 1 billion to support key projects in sectors such as transportation, healthcare, and education.

This agreement is aligned with Rwanda's National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and is intended to support investments over the next five years in roads, hospitals, educational infrastructure, information and communication technology, and agriculture.

Areas of Cooperation

Development Cooperation and Human Resource Development

Relations between the two countries initially began at a basic diplomatic level but gradually expanded into development cooperation and human resource development.

In particular, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), South Korea has provided support across various sectors, including information and communication technology (ICT), technical and vocational education and training (TVET), agriculture, and technology education. As of 2025, new cooperation projects are ongoing in areas such as green transportation, climate-resilient agriculture, technology, and vocational education and training.

Infrastructure and ICT Cooperation

South Korea has supported the development of Rwanda’s power supply, road networks, university infrastructure, hospitals, and TVET centers through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of the Export–Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM).

In addition, South Korean private companies have participated in the development of Rwanda’s digital infrastructure, contributing to ICT-based governance systems and the expansion of internet connectivity.

Trade, Investment, and Taxation Cooperation

In September 2023, the two countries signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) to institutionally support South Korean investment and trade in Rwanda. The agreement sets limits on taxation for income such as dividends, interest, and royalties, and also includes provisions related to capital gains tax.

See also

  • Foreign relations of Rwanda
  • Foreign relations of South Korea

Korea, South Category:Bilateral relations of South Korea