Senegal–South Korea relations
Senegal and South Korea established diplomatic relations on October 19, 1962. South Korea maintains an embassy in Dakar, while Senegal operates an embassy in Seoul.
History
Senegal and South Korea established diplomatic relations on October 19, 1962. Following the establishment of relations, basic agreements in areas such as trade, culture, and investment protection were concluded during the 1970s and 1980s, creating an institutional foundation for bilateral relations. Since the 2010s, cooperation has expanded in the fields of development cooperation, agriculture, water resources, and health. In June 2024, the South Korea–Africa Summit was held for the first time in Seoul and Ilsan. Senegal dispatched a ministerial-level delegation to the summit.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, mutual visits by presidents, prime ministers, ministers, and parliamentary-level officials have continued between the two countries. Notable visits from the South Korean side include President Chun Doo-hwan in 1982 and Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan in 2006. From the Senegalese side, President Léopold Sédar Senghor visited in 1979, President Abdou Diouf in 1984, and President Abdoulaye Wade in 2009.
Economic relations
As of 2022, bilateral trade amounted to US$90 million in South Korean exports to Senegal and US$52 million in imports from Senegal. Major trade items include automobiles, machinery, and steel products from South Korea, and fisheries and agricultural products from Senegal. At the 2024 South Korea–Africa Summit, a total of 47 agreements and memoranda of understanding were concluded in areas such as minerals, manufacturing, and infrastructure.
Development cooperation
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has designated Senegal as a priority partner country and has implemented grant aid projects in education, water, health, and local development. Beginning with the dispatch of volunteers in 1996, KOICA opened an office in Dakar in 2008 and has cooperated with organizations such as UNICEF and UNOPS to support projects aimed at improving access to early childhood education and enhancing rural water supply and sanitation. Information on the operation of KOICA's Senegal office is available through the agency's official guidance.
See also
- Foreign relations of Senegal
- Foreign relations of South Korea
External links
South Korea Category:Bilateral relations of South Korea