Singapore–South Korea relations
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Singapore–South Korea relations refer to the relations between the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). The relations between the two countries started when a trade mission from South Korea visited the Colony of Singapore in 1950. The two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1975, but South Korea established a trade office and a consulate-general, and sent a special envoy to visit Singapore before that. Both countries are the only two United Nations members in the Four Asian Tigers. In 2014, South Korea was the fourth-largest import source of Singapore.[1]
History[]
The earliest contact between Singapore and South Korea was dated to April 1950, when South Korean trade delegation paid a 5-day visit to Singapore.[2] South Korea then established a Korea Trade Centre in Singapore in 1964.[3] After Singapore's independence in 1965, the two countries established a fishing venture in 1967.[4] In August 1969, , the Ambassador of South Korea to Thailand, visited Singapore as the special envoy of Park Chung-hee, the President of South Korea, becoming the first official contact between the two countries.[5] During his visit, Han met S. Rajaratnam, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore and handed a "special message" to Yusof Ishak, the President of Singapore. Some political observers believed that the visit of Han was a "counterbalance" to the visit of a North Korean special envoy team in the previous month.[5]
In 1971, South Korea and Singapore established consular relations by renaming the Korea Trade Centre to a consulate-general.[6] The two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1975. In 1979, Lee Kuan Yew became the first Prime Minister of Singapore visiting South Korea.[7] The two countries started regular ministerial meetings in the same year.[8] In 1981, Chun Doo-hwan, the President of South Korea paid a state visit to Singapore, making him the first President of South Korea to do so.[9] In 2002, S. R. Nathan became the first President of Singapore visiting South Korea.[10]
In 2005, Lim Hng Kiang, the Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore and Ban Ki-moon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of South Korea signed Korea-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. It was valid in 2006.[11]
When Lee Kuan Yew died in 2015, Park Geun-hye, then President of South Korea, visited Singapore to attend his funeral.
Trade relations[]
According to the data from The Observatory of Economic Complexity, the exported value from Singapore to South Korea increased between 1995 and 2014. It reached a peak of 12 billion US dollars in 2014.[12] Singapore mainly exported machines and chemical products to South Korea.[12] The proportion of refined oil in the exported value had increased since 2007.[12]
The exported value from South Korea to Singapore was between 4 billion and 6 billion US dollars from 1995 to 2003, and it started increasing since 2004.[13] It reached a peak of 26 billion US dollars in 2012. South Korea mainly exported machines and chemical products to Singapore.[13] The proportion of refined oil in the exported value had increased since 2003,[13] while the proportion of commercial vessels in the exported value had increased after that.[13]
Cultural relations[]
Lawrence Wong, the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth of Singapore, visited South Korea twice in 2013 for the launch of the exhibition entitled “The Peranakan World: Cross-cultural Art from Singapore and the Straits” at the National Museum of Korea and attending the inaugural ROK-Southeast Asia Culture Ministers’ Meeting held in Gwangju, separately.[11]
On November 12, 2014, Singapore organized the first ASEAN K-pop Dance Cover Festival.[14]
See also[]
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References[]
- ^ "Where does Singapore import from? (2014)". Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "KOREA TRADE MISSION DUE IN SINGAPORE". The Singapore Free Press. 1950-04-25. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "S'pore urged: Send trade missions to S. Korea". The Straits Times. 1967-08-22. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "Singapore, S. Korea to launch fishing venture". The Straits Times. 1967-07-25. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ a b "The man from Seoul sees Rajaratnam on 'closer relationship'". The Straits Times. 1969-08-20. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "Stronger ties with South Korea". The Straits Times. 1971-07-07. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "Late Singaporean PM Lee Kuan Yew's special relationship with Korea". Arirang News. 2015-03-30. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "Accord on annual meetings with S. Korea". The Straits Times. 1979-10-18. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "VISIT OF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA MR CHUN DOO HWAN AND MRS CHUN" (PDF). MINISTRY OF CULTURE. 1981-06-30. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "President Nathan to visit South Korea". The Straits Times. 2002-04-05.
- ^ a b "Republic of Korea". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore. Archived from the original on 2016-05-10. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ^ a b c Alexander Simoes. "What does Singapore export to South Korea? (1995-2014)". Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ a b c d Alexander Simoes. "What does South Korea export to Singapore? (1995-2014)". Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ LIM, Wen Xin; LIM, Tai Wei; PING, Xiaojuan (2015-10-01). "KOREAN WAVE (HALLYU) IN SINGAPORE:POLICY IMPLICATIONS" (PDF). East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
External links[]
- Singapore–South Korea relations
- Bilateral relations of Singapore
- Bilateral relations of South Korea