Significant bilateral agreements

  • 1989 Agreement on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations at Ambassadorial Level
  • 1989 Agreement on Cultural and Scientific Cooperation
  • 1989 Agreement on Mutual Promotion and Protection of Investment
  • 1989 Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation
  • 1990 Agreement for Air Services and Tourism
  • 1991 Agreement on Visa Exemption
  • 2005 Agreement on Economic Cooperation
  • 2006 Agreement on Social Security
  • 2010 Free Trade Agreement between the European Union, its Member States and South Korea
  • 2013 Hungarian-South Korean Working Holiday Program Agreement
  • 2013 Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy
  • 2014 MoU between the Ministry of Human Capacities of Hungary and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea on Cooperation in the Field of Education
  • 2014 Air Services Agreement between the Governments of Hungary and the Republic of Korea
  • 2014 Agreement between the Governments of Hungary and the Republic of Korea on the Mutual Recognition of Driving Licenses
  • 2014 MoU between the National Innovation Office of Hungary and the Financial Services Commission of the Republic of Korea on Cooperation in the Field of Technology Financing

 

Summary of relations

Hungary was the first country from the former Eastern bloc to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea on February 1, 1989. Since then embassies have been operating in both capitals. Over the last few years, cooperation between the two countries has been developing dynamically as demonstrated by the great number of high-level bilateral visits, extensive economic ties, and exceptionally valuable people-to-people contacts.

By now, the institutional framework for the bilateral relationship has been set up: intergovernmental agreements have been signed on investment protection, on the avoidance of double taxation, on cooperation in trade, the economy and culture, in the science and technology field, on visa exemption, on air traffic and tourism cooperation. A Joint Economic Committee has also been launched.

The intensive cooperation between the two countries is based on shared values and the similarities of our democratic systems. Hungary regards the Republic of Korea as a main political and economic partner in Northeast Asia. The membership of Hungary in the European Union since May 2004 has also opened new avenues for political and economic cooperation with the Republic of Korea.

In addition to our political and economic relations, we see a considerable value in developing people-to-people contacts. Increasingly, South Korean students consider Hungary a popular place to study in the heart of Europe. To support this trend, in 2014 the Hungarian Government included South Korea in its Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program. Thanks to the Visa Exemption Agreement signed in 1991 and to the Hungary-South Korea Working Holiday Program Agreement signed in 2013, Hungary has become a major destination for South Korean tourists in Europe.

 

High level visits

From the Republic of Korea:

  • 1989 President Roh Tae-woo
  • 1989 Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Ho-joong
  • 1996 Prime Minister Lee Su-seong
  • 2001 President Kim Dae-jung
  • 2002 Speaker of the National Assembly Lee Man-sup
  • 2004 Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan
  • 2005 Minister of Foreign Affairs Ban Ki-moon
  • 2007 Prime Minister Han Duck-soo
  • 2009 Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Lee Yun-sung
  • 2009 Special Envoy of the President Park Geun-hye
  • 2009 Mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Oh Se-hoon
  • 2010 Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Hong Je-hyung
  • 2015 Speaker of the National Assembly Chung Ui-hwa

From Hungary:

  • 1990 President Árpád Göncz (non official visit in 1993)
  • 1991 Minister of Foreign Affairs Géza Jeszenszky
  • 1991 Speaker of the Parliament György Szabad
  • 1995 Prime Minister Gyula Horn
  • 1997 Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Mária Kóródi
  • 2005 Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány
  • 2005 Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Gábor Világosi
  • 2006 Speaker of the Parliament Katalin Szili
  • 2007 Minister of Foreign Affairs Kinga Göncz
  • 2009 President László Sólyom
  • 2012 President Pál Schmitt
  • 2013 Vice President of the Parliament István Jakab 
  • 2013 Minister of Foreign Affairs János Martonyi
  • 2013 Minister of Defence Csaba Hende
  • 2013 Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga
  • 2013 Chief Justice Péter Darák
  • 2014 Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
  • 2014 Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó
  • 2014 Minister of Defence Csaba Hende
  • 2014 Minister of National Development Miklós Seszták
  • 2014 Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga
  • 2014 Minister of Human Capacities Zoltán Balog
  • 2015 Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén
  • 2015 Deputy Speaker of Parliament János Latorcai
  • 2015 President János Áder
  • 2016 Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga
  • 2016 Speaker of the Parliament László Kövér
  • 2016 Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó