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President Lee Jae-myung greets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a Korea–MIKTA leaders’ meeting at the G20 Summit venue in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22. / Source: Yonhap News

Ahead of his state visit to Türkiye, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on Saturday that combining Türkiye’s unmanned aerial systems with Korea’s advanced platform weapon systems could create significant new opportunities for defense cooperation.

In a written interview with Türkiye’s state-run Anadolu Agency, Lee said the two countries’ defense capabilities form a “highly complementary structure,” noting that each side brings distinct strengths.

“Türkiye has emerged as a global leader in unmanned aerial vehicles, while Korea maintains an edge in advanced platform systems such as tanks, self-propelled artillery and naval vessels,” he said. Looking ahead, Lee added, “I believe we can further expand our bilateral partnership in next-generation defense technologies.”

He said such cooperation would include integrating unmanned systems with existing platforms and enhancing mobility and protection technologies. Lee cited the unveiling of Türkiye’s first mass-produced Altay main battle tank powered by a Korean engine as a “symbolic example” of what the two nations can achieve together.

Lee also emphasized that deeper cooperation in construction and infrastructure would generate large synergies in third-country markets. He said Türkiye’s strong project execution record and extensive networks across the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia, combined with Korea’s advanced engineering capabilities, project planning, quality control expertise and project financing, create “an ideal partnership model.”

He pointed to major joint achievements such as the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge—the world’s longest suspension bridge—the Eurasia Tunnel and the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, saying Korea and Türkiye can be effective partners in large-scale infrastructure projects, including reconstruction efforts in Ukraine and Syria.

Lee further stressed that Korea could make major contributions to Türkiye’s nuclear power initiatives. Citing Korea’s successful completion of the UAE’s Barakah nuclear power plant and participation in new European projects, he said such experience demonstrates that Korea is “a reliable partner capable of managing complex projects safely and efficiently.”

He added that Korean firms would be the “optimal partner” for Türkiye’s nuclear projects by ensuring timely and cost-effective execution. Korea’s approach, he said, focuses not only on plant construction but also on helping partner countries strengthen their broader nuclear ecosystems. Lee noted that Korea aims to commercialize its innovative small modular reactor (i-SMR) in the mid-2030s and is ready to explore future cooperation with Türkiye.

The president also reaffirmed that the “door to dialogue” with North Korea remains open. “Unification remains our ultimate goal,” he said, stressing that South Korea does not seek unilateral unification but a gradual, phased process based on peaceful coexistence and the democratic will of all Koreans on the peninsula.

With domestic debates intensifying following Seoul’s move toward acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, Lee clarified that “the Republic of Korea firmly supports the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime and the principle that nuclear energy must be used only for peaceful purposes.”