Iran – South Korea relations

روابط ایران - کره جنوبی

(Wikipedia) - Nuclear In June 2007, South Koreau2019s then-foreign minister, Song Min-Sun, supported a diplomatic solution to the international disagreement over Iranu2019s nuclear program.[1 1] In November 2008, South Koreau2019s next foreign minister, Yu Myung-Hwan, said that Iran needs to reassure the international community of the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, a South Korean, "the Iranian foreign minister stressed that his country is pushing for a nuclear program for peaceful purposes. u201D u201CSouth Korea asks Iran to dispel nuclear concerns,u201D Yonhap, November 13, 2008 (February 11, 2009) Economic Relationship Iran and South Korea enjoy strong economic ties with bilateral trade totaling roughly $10 billion in 2008.[3 3] Despite disagreements over Iranu2019s nuclear enrichment activity, Vice President of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency Hong Ki-Wha and the head of Iranu2019s Investment and Technical and Economic Assistances Organization, Mohammad Khazau2019i, signed a memorandum of understanding in April 2007, in which they agreed to form a committee with the aim of boosting trade between their two countries.[4 4] Kim Sung Gun, South Koreau2019s parliamentary delegation head to Iran in March 2007 noted that Korean companies are eager to invest in Iran and added that he hopes the two countries can encourage bilateral investment.[5 5] According to a Middle East Economic Survey, Iran exported 157,000 barrels of crude oil per day to South Korea in July 2009. Though South Korea has decreased total crude oil imports from the Middle East by 14.7% compared to the previous year, Iran remains South Koreau2019s fourth largest source of crude oil.[6 6] In May 2009, South Korean ministers participated in a major conference on foreign investment in Iran.[7 7] South Korea also attended the Iranian gas forum on September 26u201327, 2009 alongside Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands, and Malaysia.[8 8] According to a report by the United States government, as of April 2010 there were three South Korean firms active in Iranu2019s hydrocarbon sector between 2005 and 2009 that received US government contracts totaling roughly $880 million. These were the Daelim Industrial Company, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and GS Engineering and Construction. [9 9] On July 3, 2010, Iran the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) cancelled a $1.2 billion contract with GS Engineering and Construction, accusing the firm of failing to fulfill its obligations. The South Korean company had been tasked with removing hydrogen sulfide from gas pumped from Iranu2019s South Pars field after signing an agreement in October 2009.[10 10] Diplomatic/Military Cooperation: South Korea and Iran have continuously disagreed on the latteru2019s nuclear enrichment activities. In January 2007, Ban Ki-Moon, South Koreau2019s former foreign minister, assumed the position of UN Secretary General. Since assuming office, Moon has supported a number of sanctions against the Islamic Republic for failing to comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency, further straining relations between the two countries.[11 11] Impediments notwithstanding, South Korea and Iran have had a number of official meetings to discuss bilateral trade and political cooperation and have signed several memorandums of understanding, including on media cooperation, trade-investment, and technical cooperation between the two.[12 12] During a March 2009 meeting between National Assembly Speaker of South Korea Kim Hyong-o and Iranian Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi, Hyong-o expressed his hope that Iran and South Korea expand parliamentary cooperation.[13 13] That same month, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister in Asia and Pacific Affairs suggested that Iran and South Korea should cooperate to help establish security in Afghanistan.[14 14] In November 2009, Iran announced that it was prepared to aid in resolving the Korean peninsula crisis. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that Iran welcomes mutual understanding and agreement between South and North Korea to promote peace and stability in the region. During a meeting with South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Yong-Jon at the end of October 2009, Mottaki said that u201Cmutual cooperation has not been balanced in all fields and we hope to be able to make it more balanced. u201D The South Korean senior diplomat responded that u201Cwe want promotion of ties in all economic fields and implementing joint projects and deepening bilateral cooperation in direction of mutual interests. u201D[15 15] On January 6, 2010, the head of the Iran-South Korea parliamentary friendship group, Hossein Hashemi, and Speaker Kim Hyong-o met in Seoul in order to discuss ways to foster bilateral cooperation, particularly, in the economic and energy sectors.[16 16] During the meeting, Hyong-o referred to the ample potentials existing on both sides for increasing mutual cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the growth of bilateral ties between the two countries. On Iran's nuclear issue, he stressed Iran's right to use peaceful nuclear energy, and added "all countries are entitled to use peaceful nuclear energy and we believe Iran's nuclear program is for civilian purposes. "[17 17] In April 2010, in an effort to improve the two countriesu2019 u201Cmutual understanding and acquaintance,u201D South Korea and Iran agreed to exchange news and media teams and enhance current levels of educational and technical collaboration. The decision to expand cooperation in the field of media was taken following a meeting between Islamic Republic News Agency Directory Ali-Akbar Javanfekr and Lee Seung Jung, the head of the South Korea Press Association.[18 18] Although u201Chigh politicsu201D ties between the two countries are not especially developed, Seoul and Tehran have taken steps to engage each other in cultural spheres. In May 2009, the South Korean Vice-Cultural Minister Jae-min Shin and the South Korean Ambassador to Tehran Kim Young-mok attended a ceremony entitled u201CKorea, Sparkling Night in Iranu201D where both officials expressed the hope that such events would bring about improved political, economic and cultural relations between South Korea and Iran.[19 19] In October 2009, South Koreau2019s Pusan International Film festival will host two Iranian filmmakers, Payman Hagani and Mahmoud Kalari. The Iranian filmmakers will present their films as well as participate in an educational workshop for aspiring Asian directors.[20 20] Furthermore, the Iran National Library and Archives (INLA) has agreed to work to increase bilateral cooperation with the National Library of [South South] Korea. In March 2010, INLA Director Ali-Akbar Ashari met with his South Korean counterpart, Chul-min Mo, to signed an agreement pledging to exchange experience in staff training and library science, and to hold book fairs.[21 21] [1 1] u201CS. Korea Urges Settlement of Iran's Nuclear Case Through Diplomacy,u201D IRNA, June 4, 2007 (February 11, 2009) [2 2] u201CSouth Korea asks Iran to dispel nuclear concerns,u201D Yonhap, November 13, 2008 (February 11, 2009) [3 3] u201CIran Calls For Joint Projects With South Korea In Afghanistan,u201D Fars News Agency, March 18, 2009 [4 4] u201CIran, S. Korea To Pursue Joint Trade,u201D Press TV, April 8, 2007 http://www. bilaterals. org/article. php3?id_article=7812 (February 17, 2009) [5 5] u201CIran-South Korea emphasize on good economic tiesu201D, Iran Defense Forum, irandefense. net March 12, 2007 [6 6] u201CIran Fourth Crude Exporter to South Korea,u201D MojNews, September 16, 2009, http://www. mojnews. com/en/Miscellaneous/ViewContents. aspx?Contract=cms_Contents_I_News&r=357803 (August 31, 2009) [7 7] u201CForeign Investment Conference To Be held In Iran,u201D Islamic Republic News Agency, May 27, 2009, http://www. irna. ir/En/View/FullStory/?NewsId=510384&IdLanguage=3 (May 27, 2009) [8 8] Third Iran Gas Forum: September 26u201327 in Tehran,u201D Payvand News, September 23, 2006, http://www. payvand. com/news/09/sep/1260. html (September 23, 2009) [9 9] u201CFactbox- Foreign Companies Stepping Away from Iran,u201D Reuters, July 5, 2010 http://www. reuters. com/article/idUSLDE65R1O220100705 (July 5, 2010) [10 10] u201CIran Scraps US$1.2 Billion Gas Deal With South Korea,u201D Bernama, July 3, 2010 http://www. bernama. com/bernama/v5/newsindex. php?id=510687 (July 5, 2010) [11 11] u201CBan Ki-moon u2018deeply concernedu2019 by Iranu2019s refusal to suspend uranium enrichment,u201D UN News Center, February 22, 2007 http://www. un. org/apps/news/story. asp?NewsID=21650&Cr=iran&Cr1 (February 17, 2009) [12 12] u201CIran, S. Korea To Pursue Joint Trade,u201D Press TV, April 8, 2007 http://www. bilaterals. org/article. php3?id_article=7812 (February 17, 2009); u201CIran, South Korea Discuss Media Cooperationu201D, Fars News Agency, January 30, 2009. [13 13] u201CSouth Korea Calls For Parliamentary Cooperation With Iran,u201D IRNA, March 17, 2009 [14 14] u201CIran Calls For Joint Projects With South Korea In Afghanistan,u201D Fars News Agency, March 18, 2009 [15 15] u201CIran Ready to Mediate Between Two Korease,u201D Xinhua, October 18, 2009, http://news. xinhuanet. com/english/2009-10/18/content_12265970. htm (November 7, 2009) [16 16] " Iran, S. Korea confer on promoting cooperationu201D, ISNA, 6 January 2010, http://www. isna. ir/ISNA/NewsView. aspx?ID=News-1468632&Lang=E [17 17] " Iranian Parliamentary Delegation Visits S. Korea", Fars News Agency, 6 January 2010, http://english. farsnews. com/newstext. php?nn=8810160620 [18 18] u201CIran, S Korea to Exchange News Teams,u201D IRNA, April 23, 2010 [19 19] u201Cu2019Korea, Sparkling Night in Iranu2019 helps raise funds for Iranian Children suffering from cancer,u201D Pavyand Iran News, September 16, 2009 http://www. payvand. com/news/09/may/1040. html (May 5, 2009) [20 20] u201CSouth Korea to host two Iranian filmmakers,u201D Press TV, September 16, 2009 http://www. presstv. ir/detail. aspx?id=105756&sectionid=351020105 (September 9, 2009) [21 21] u201CNational Libraries of Iran and S. Korea Sign Agreement,u201D Mehr News Agency, March 13, 2010 Iran–South Korea relations   (Redirected from Iran – South Korea relations) Iran–South Korea relations

Iran	South Korea

Iran–South Korea relations are diplomatic relations between Iran and South Korea. Throughout history, the two countries have maintained a relatively friendly and strongly strategic partnership despite Iran's close relationship with North Korea, and South Korea's close relationship with the United States. South Korea is one of Iran's major commercial partners.

Contents 1 Nuclear program 2 Economic relationship 3 Diplomatic/military cooperation 4 See also 5 References

Nuclear program

In June 2007, South Korea’s then-foreign minister, Song Min-soon, supported a diplomatic solution to the international disagreement over Iran’s nuclear program. In November 2008, South Korea’s next foreign minister, Yu Myung-hwan, said that Iran needs to reassure the international community of the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, a South Korean, "the Iranian foreign minister stressed that his country is pushing for a nuclear program for peaceful purposes.”

Economic relationship

Iran and South Korea enjoy strong economic ties with bilateral trade totaling roughly $10 billion in 2008. Despite disagreements over Iran’s nuclear enrichment activity, Vice President of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency Hong Ki-Wha and the head of Iran’s Investment and Technical and Economic Assistances Organization, Mohammad Khaza’i, signed a memorandum of understanding in April 2007, in which they agreed to form a committee with the aim of boosting trade between their two countries. Kim Sung Gun, South Korea’s parliamentary delegation head to Iran in March 2007 noted that Korean companies are eager to invest in Iran and added that he hopes the two countries can encourage bilateral investment.

According to a Middle East Economic Survey, Iran exported 157,000 barrels of crude oil per day to South Korea in July 2009. Though South Korea has decreased total crude oil imports from the Middle East by 14.7% compared to the previous year, Iran remains South Korea’s fourth largest source of crude oil.

In May 2009, South Korean ministers participated in a major conference on foreign investment in Iran. South Korea also attended the Iranian gas forum on September 26–27, 2009 alongside Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands, and Malaysia.

According to a report by the United States government, as of April 2010 there were three South Korean firms active in Iran’s hydrocarbon sector between 2005 and 2009 that received US government contracts totaling roughly $880 million. These were the Daelim Industrial Company, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and GS Engineering and Construction. On July 3, 2010, Iran the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) cancelled a $1.2 billion contract with GS Engineering and Construction, accusing the firm of failing to fulfill its obligations. The South Korean company had been tasked with removing hydrogen sulfide from gas pumped from Iran’s South Pars field after signing an agreement in October 2009.

Diplomatic/military cooperation

South Korea and Iran have continuously disagreed on the latter’s nuclear enrichment activities. In January 2007, Ban Ki-Moon, South Korea’s former foreign minister, assumed the position of UN Secretary General. Since assuming office, Ban has supported a number of sanctions against the Islamic Republic for failing to comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency, further straining relations between the two countries. Impediments notwithstanding, South Korea and Iran have had a number of official meetings to discuss bilateral trade and political cooperation and have signed several memorandums of understanding, including on media cooperation, trade-investment, and technical cooperation between the two.

During a March 2009 meeting between National Assembly Speaker of South Korea Kim Hyong-o and Iranian Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi, Kim expressed his hope that Iran and South Korea expand parliamentary cooperation. That same month, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister in Asia and Pacific Affairs suggested that Iran and South Korea should cooperate to help establish security in Afghanistan.

In November 2009, Iran announced that it was prepared to aid in resolving the Korean peninsula crisis. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that Iran welcomes mutual understanding and agreement between South and North Korea to promote peace and stability in the region. During a meeting with South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Yong-Jon at the end of October 2009, Mottaki said that “mutual cooperation has not been balanced in all fields and we hope to be able to make it more balanced.” The South Korean senior diplomat responded that “we want promotion of ties in all economic fields and implementing joint projects and deepening bilateral cooperation in direction of mutual interests.”

On January 6, 2010, the head of the Iran-South Korea parliamentary friendship group, Hossein Hashemi, and Speaker Kim Hyong-o met in Seoul in order to discuss ways to foster bilateral cooperation, particularly, in the economic and energy sectors. During the meeting, Hyong-o referred to the ample potentials existing on both sides for increasing mutual cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the growth of bilateral ties between the two countries. On Iran's nuclear issue, he stressed Iran's right to use peaceful nuclear energy, and added "all countries are entitled to use peaceful nuclear energy and we believe Iran's nuclear program is for civilian purposes."

In April 2010, in an effort to improve the two countries’ “mutual understanding and acquaintance,” South Korea and Iran agreed to exchange news and media teams and enhance current levels of educational and technical collaboration. The decision to expand cooperation in the field of media was taken following a meeting between Islamic Republic News Agency Directory Ali-Akbar Javanfekr and Lee Seung Jung, the head of the South Korea Press Association.

Although “high politics” ties between the two countries are not especially developed, Seoul and Tehran have taken steps to engage each other in cultural spheres. In May 2009, the South Korean Vice-Cultural Minister Jae-min Shin and the South Korean Ambassador to Tehran Kim Young-mok attended a ceremony entitled “Korea, Sparkling Night in Iran” where both officials expressed the hope that such events would bring about improved political, economic and cultural relations between South Korea and Iran. In October 2009, South Korea’s Pusan International Film festival will host two Iranian filmmakers, Payman Hagani and Mahmoud Kalari. The Iranian filmmakers will present their films as well as participate in an educational workshop for aspiring Asian directors. Furthermore, the Iran National Library and Archives (INLA) has agreed to work to increase bilateral cooperation with the National Library of Korea. In March 2010, INLA Director Ali-Akbar Ashari met with his South Korean counterpart, Chul-min Mo, to signed an agreement pledging to exchange experience in staff training and library science, and to hold book fairs.

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