Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in the South Korean capital on Monday for a state visit, with a summit with President Lee Jae Myung due Tuesday and several agreements expected.
Tamrah News Desk | November 2, 2026
The Erdogan South Korea visit began on Monday, November 2, when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan landed in Seoul at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung, according to Anadolu Agency. Reuters reported that it is his first trip to South Korea since 2018. An Erdogan Lee Jae Myung summit is set for Tuesday. Anadolu said both sides are expected to sign agreements that strengthen the legal framework of Turkey South Korea relations.
Arrival at Seoul Air Base
Anadolu reported that Erdogan and first lady Emine Erdogan were welcomed at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam by South Korean Trade Minister Park Jung Sung. Turkey’s ambassador to South Korea, Fatih Yildiz, and his wife, Nesrin Yildiz, also attended. The agency said the president travelled with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, National Defence Minister Yasar Guler, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir and Defence Industries Secretary Haluk Gorgun.
Erdogan South Korea Visit Schedule and the Lee Jae Myung Summit
The Korea Times reported that a presidential spokesperson in Seoul confirmed the state visit runs from Monday through Wednesday, with the Erdogan Lee Jae Myung summit on Tuesday. The Asia Business Daily said Tuesday afternoon begins with an official welcoming ceremony, followed by the talks, a signing ceremony for memorandums of understanding and a state dinner. Seoul Economic Daily reported that the two presidents will review projects agreed during Lee’s state visit to Turkey in November 2025. They will also discuss trade, investment, biotechnology, energy and science. The Korea Times added that they are expected to exchange views on the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East.
Turkey South Korea Trade and the $15 Billion Target
According to Reuters, citing an interview with Yonhap News Agency, Erdogan named defense, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and robotics as areas for wider cooperation. He asked South Korean companies to invest more, to produce jointly in Turkey and to join transport and logistics projects linking Asia and Europe. Reuters said both countries are working toward $15 billion in bilateral trade, and Erdogan called for action on an imbalance in South Korea’s favor. The Korea JoongAng Daily reported last November that Erdogan had already asked for a review of the free trade agreement to make Turkey South Korea trade more balanced. The goods agreement took effect in May 2013, the newspaper said.
Will South Korea Help Build Turkey’s Sinop Nuclear Power Plant?
Reuters reported that Erdogan told Yonhap South Korea could become a partner in the planned Sinop nuclear power plant on the Black Sea coast. He said Turkey has studied the technical and economic terms with Korea Electric Power Corporation, known as KEPCO. Ankara would weigh financing, electricity costs and benefits to the Turkish economy before choosing a partner. No final choice has been announced. The Korea Times reported in 2025 that the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on nuclear energy cooperation in Ankara and that KEPCO had submitted a preliminary bid. Its 2026 report lists nuclear power plants among the topics for Tuesday’s talks.
Turkey South Korea Defense Cooperation and the Strategic Partnership
Defense is also on the agenda. Anadolu named the defense minister and the head of defense industries among the delegation. The Korea JoongAng Daily reported that at the Ankara summit last November, Lee and Erdogan agreed to expand economic cooperation in defense, nuclear energy and bio industries. The Korea Herald reported in 2018 that the countries established diplomatic ties in 1957, and the Korea Times reported that they upgraded to a strategic partnership in 2012. Seoul’s presidential office said it expects the visit to “further strengthen the strategic partnership” before the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, the Asia Business Daily reported.
Wider Context for Readers
The visit comes while the Middle East stays in focus. Tamrah News has covered oil prices and the Hormuz crisis, and its report on the Yoon Suk Yeol case gives background on South Korean politics. More stories are available in the Asia news and Diplomacy sections.
Conclusion
Erdogan’s arrival in Seoul opens three days of diplomacy as ties approach their 70th anniversary. Trade, defence and the undecided Sinop nuclear power plant are the main files. Readers following the story can track these search terms: Erdogan South Korea visit, Erdogan Lee Jae Myung summit, Turkey South Korea relations, Sinop nuclear power plant, Turkey South Korea trade, Turkey South Korea strategic partnership and Turkey South Korea defence cooperation.
-Tamrah News
