Minister Grlić Radman’s working visit to the Republic of Korea focused on strengthening economic cooperation

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman paid a working visit to the Republic of Korea on 25 and 26 May 2026, during which he held a series of meetings with senior Korean officials and representatives of the business sector. The visit was aimed at further strengthening the political, economic, and investment relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Korea.

As part of the central programme of the visit, Grlić Radman met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Cho Hyun. The discussions focused on advancing bilateral cooperation, current international issues, and opportunities for stronger ties between Croatian and Korean businesses. Particular emphasis was placed on trade exchange, the defence industry, energy, shipbuilding, port logistics, new technologies, tourism, and cooperation within the framework of relations between the European Union and the Republic of Korea.

Grlić Radman also held meetings with the Vice Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Joo Ho-young, the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Kwon Oh-eul, and the Chairwoman of the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), Youn Young-mi. The talks confirmed the mutual interest in further deepening economic cooperation, strengthening institutional and industrial partnerships, and creating new opportunities for Croatian and Korean companies.

During the visit, the importance of the Port of Rijeka was highlighted as one of the most competitive entry points for Korean goods into the EU market. The potential for further cooperation in the fields of energy, transport and maritime infrastructure, the defence industry, digital technologies, and sustainable economic development was also underscored.

Special emphasis was placed on the importance of tourism within overall Croatian-Korean relations, as well as on the interest in re-establishing a direct air connection between the Republic of Korea and Croatia. Such connectivity would further contribute to strengthening tourism exchange, economic ties, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

The interlocutors reaffirmed their shared readiness to continue intensifying bilateral cooperation within the framework of a comprehensive, future-oriented partnership, with particular emphasis on strengthening economic ties, investment, and business community connectivity between the two countries.

The working visit to the Republic of Korea once again confirmed the very good and friendly relations between Croatia and the Republic of Korea, while further reinforcing the foundations for the continued development of economic, institutional, and strategic cooperation between the two partner countries.

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