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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shake hands ahead of their small-group meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on November 24. / Source: Yonhap News

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to Türkiye, held summit talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on November 24 (local time), focusing on expanding cooperation in nuclear energy, defense, and biotechnology.

A key agenda item was Türkiye’s Sinop nuclear power plant project, for which Lee expressed interest in securing participation by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), underscoring his “sales diplomacy” drive.

Following the summit at the Presidential Complex, Lee said in a joint press announcement, “President Erdoğan and I reviewed the development of our bilateral relationship since the establishment of diplomatic ties and held in-depth discussions on ways to advance our strategic partnership into a future-oriented and mutually beneficial one.”

Lee added that the leaders discussed ways to deepen bilateral solidarity “amid shifting regional and global dynamics.”

The two leaders held a 104-minute small-group meeting followed by an expanded session, adopting a Joint Statement on the Strategic Partnership Between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Türkiye.

Nuclear cooperation: KEPCO’s entry into Sinop project

On nuclear energy, Lee said, “We agreed that both governments will support the smooth progress of the remaining technical evaluation processes for Türkiye’s Sinop nuclear power project. We hope Korea’s advanced nuclear technology and operational safety capabilities will substantially contribute to Türkiye’s nuclear development.”

Defense industry: expanding successful joint projects

The two presidents agreed to strengthen cooperation in defense and infrastructure, building on successes such as the Altay main battle tank project and the Eurasia undersea tunnel.

“As both nations aspire to become defense industry leaders, we will continue cooperation in joint production, technology partnerships, and training exchanges,” Lee said. “We hope to create more successful cases like the Altay tank project to strengthen our defense capabilities and contribute to peace and security.”

Infrastructure and bio partnerships widen

Lee welcomed expanded cooperation in major infrastructure projects, citing the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge and the Eurasia Tunnel as model cases. He said both governments will support greater collaboration under the new Road Infrastructure Cooperation MOU signed during the visit.

On biotechnology, Lee highlighted SK Plasma’s participation in Türkiye’s “blood product self-sufficiency project,” saying, “Considering that our two nations share a ‘blood alliance’ forged during the Korean War, this project carries even greater significance. I sincerely thank President Erdoğan for supporting our company’s involvement.”

Lee also welcomed an MOU signed between Korea’s CS Wind and Türkiye’s Enerjisa on wind power cooperation, adding that both countries will deepen strategic partnerships in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies.

He additionally announced that the Korea–Türkiye Joint Economic Committee will be revived for the first time in a decade to ensure systematic progress in all areas of cooperation.

Foreign policy coordination and cultural exchange

Lee expressed gratitude for Türkiye’s “consistent support” for Seoul’s North Korea policy and praised Erdoğan’s efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.

He also stressed plans to boost people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Marking the 75th anniversary of Türkiye’s participation in the Korean War, Lee said it was “deeply meaningful” to visit the “brother nation” in his first year as president. “As Türkiye’s brother country, Korea will do its utmost to faithfully implement the agreements discussed today.”

Three MOUs signed; business participation expected to expand

Following the summit, the two nations signed three MOUs:

• nuclear cooperation,

• road infrastructure cooperation (Türkiye Highways Authority–Korea Expressway Corporation–Korea Overseas Infrastructure Development Corporation),

• veterans affairs cooperation.

The presidential office said the agreements “create a foundation for Korea to participate from the early stages of nuclear site evaluations and pave the way for potential project contracts,” adding that they will also expand Korean firms’ opportunities in Türkiye’s large-scale road development projects.

Earlier in the day, Lee visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Türkiye, to begin his official schedule.

Lee will depart for Korea on November 25, concluding his 7-night, 10-day tour of the Middle East and Africa.