Increasingly substantive partnership
The Vietnam – RoK relationship has been grown remarkably, especially since the upgrade of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2022.
The two countries set up diplomatic relations on December 22, 1992. For more than three decades, they have advanced through several milestones – from a “comprehensive partnership in the 21st century” established in 2001, to a “strategic cooperative partnership” in 2009, and now a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”
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State President Luong Cuong |
Since the latest upgrade, political trust has been increasingly reinforced, with high-level mutual visits and meetings strongly promoted. Recent visits to the RoK include those by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (July 2024), Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (June 2024), President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien (August 2025), and Party General Secretary To Lam (August 2025). From the Korean side, visits to Vietnam include those by Minister for Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo (March 2025), Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryung (March 2025), Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun (April 2025), and Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul (April 2025).
Notably, Party General Secretary To Lam’s state visit was of special significance, marking the first foreign guest welcomed by President Lee Jae Myung since taking office in June 2025. During the trip, the sides issued a joint statement on deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and signed 10 cooperation documents on various sectors.
Vietnam and the RoK also maintain close coordination at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, World Trade Organisation (WTO), APEC, Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEAN - RoK, ASEAN+3, and the East Asia Summit, contributing to regional peace and prosperity.
Bilateral friendship further enhanced
Deep political trust continues to underpin growing economic, trade, and investment ties. The RoK is currently Vietnam’s largest foreign investor, with cumulative investment exceeding 94.2 billion USD as of September 2025. It ranks second in development cooperation, pledging 4 billion USD in ODA by 2030, and third in trade, with bilateral turnover reaching 81.5 billion USD in 2024 and 65.8 billion USD in the first nine months of 2025. The two countries have set a trade target of 150 billion USD for 2030.
People-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation are also highlights of bilateral connections. Approximately 350,000 Vietnamese are residing in the RoK and around 200,000 Koreans living in Vietnam, including 80,000 multicultural Vietnamese–Korean families. Over 100 localities from both countries have established people-to-people ties, fostering close bonds between the two nations and creating favorable conditions for broader and deeper cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
According to Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho, President Luong Cuong’s visit serves a dual purpose – advancing multilateral engagement within APEC and promoting bilateral cooperation with member economies. During the trip, the State leader is expected to meet leaders of the RoK and other APEC members to discuss collaboration in strategic areas such as high-tech supply chains, clean energy, innovation, non-traditional security, and people-to-people links.
These engagements are expected to create a solid stepping stone for more practical and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK, particularly as the two sides prepare to celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027.
Source: VNA