South Korea–Ukraine relations are foreign relations between South Korea and Ukraine. Diplomatic Relations were established on February 10, 1992. South Korea has an embassy in Kyiv. Ukraine has an embassy in Seoul.
Ukraine recognizes the Republic of Korea as the sole legitimate government in the Korean Peninsula since 13 July 2022, after breaking diplomatic relations with North Korea over its recognition of the Luhansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic, two Russia-controlled breakaway states in eastern Ukraine.
Supply of weapons
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine asked South Korea for aid. As noted in October 2022 South Korea had provided Ukraine with some resources, but refused to supply lethal weaponry. Even until March 2023 the South Korean government refused to supply Ukraine with lethal weaponry because of a decades-old legal prohibition on this practice to any parties involved in conflict. However, as of April 2023, the government would supply weapons components.
In an interview on 18 April 2023 South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said his country "might extend its support for Ukraine beyond humanitarian and economic aid if it comes under a large-scale civilian attack". Said Yoon: "If there is a situation the international community cannot condone, such as any large-scale attack on civilians, massacre or serious violation of the laws of war, it might be difficult for us to insist only on humanitarian or financial support."
Political relations
Ukraine declared its independence on August 24, 1991, with the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, On December 30, 1991, the South Korean government recognized Ukraine as a sovereign state. South Korea and Ukraine established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1992. On July 31, 1992, the government of the Republic of Korea established the Embassy of South Korea, Ukraine in Kyiv, In October 1997, the Ukrainian government established the Embassy of South Korea, Ukraine in Seoul. Since then, the Republic of Korea and Ukraine have maintained friendly relations, with reciprocal visits by high-ranking officials from both countries.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Suh Hoon South Korea's Blue House held a National Security Council on February 24, 2022, to discuss measures regarding the Ukraine crisis. Moon Jae-in President of the Republic of Korea, said, "Russia's invasion of Ukraine cannot be justified under any circumstances. South Korea will work for a peaceful resolution of the situation, such as economic sanctions against Russia." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a spokesperson statement, saying, "We strongly condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which constitutes an act in violation of the Charter of the United Nations. " and joins the international community's economic sanctions against Russia. The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced that it will impose sanctions on Sberbank and the six largest Russian banks (VEB. RF, Sberbank (PSB), VTB Bank, Otkritie, Sovcom, and Novikom). The Financial Services Commission said it would also suspend transactions with Rossiya Bank as of March 7, 2022. Since the 2014 crisis in Ukraine, the South Korean government has stated that Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity must be respected. Therefore, the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea forcible annexation, as well as the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic-Luhansk People's Republic, established by pro-Russian separatist rebels operating in the Donbass region of Ukraine, and Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian Donetsk Oblast-Luhansk Oblast-Zaporizhia Oblast-Kherson Oblast It also denies the annexation.
Tourism
The Ukrainian government provides South Korean nationals with a South Korean passport with visa-free entry for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, on February 13, 2022, the South Korean government designated Ukraine as a travel ban country due to escalating military tensions with Ukraine. Ukrainian citizens with Ukrainian passports must apply for a visa to enter South Korea. However, if they hold a diplomatic or tolerance passport, they can enter South Korea without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Economic relations
Since 1998, Korean exports to Ukraine have generally grown each year, except for a decline in 1999. However, due to the financial crisis in Ukraine in late 2008, there was a significant 76.0% drop in 2009. Following that, Korean exports to Ukraine experienced steady growth, but starting in 2013, the country's exports declined sharply as the Ukrainian economy faced challenges from the Revolution of Dignity and the civil war in the eastern region.