I. Diplomatic relations

- Diplomatic relations established between Greece and S. Korea: 5 April 1961                    

II. TREATY FRAMEWORK Bilateral Agreements

1.                   Education agreement (23.7.1970)

2.                   Trade agreement (4.10.1974)

3.                   Agreement on abolition of visa requirements (25.2.1979)

4.                   Agreement on scientific and technological cooperation (16.5.1994)

5.                   Aviation agreement (25.1.1995)

6.                   Agreement on investment protection (25.1.1995)

7.                   Agreement on avoidance of double taxation (20.3.1995)

III. Political relations

Greece has traditionally enjoyed good relations with South Korea, which is particularly appreciative of our involvement in the Korean War (1950-1953). Architectural improvements to the War Memorial to the Greeks who died in the conflict are currently being carried out under the aegis of the Greek Ministry of Defence, the Greek Association of Korean War Veterans and the S. Korean Veterans Ministry.

The Athens Olympics provided for broad and significant coverage of Greece by the S. Korean media. As well as covering the actual Games, the major TV channels also broadcast extensive material on Greek tourism, history and culture, thus giving fresh impetus to the South Korean publics interest in things Greek. Seoul was one of the cities through which the Olympic Torch passed on its way to Athens.

The South Korean Foreign Minister, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, made an official visit to Greece on 21-22 April. He was met by the then President, Mr. K. Stephanopoulos, the Foreign Minister, Mr. Petros Molyviatis, and the Mayor of Athens, Mrs. Dora Bakoyanni. The Mayor of Seoul, Mr. Lee yung Bak, also accepted an invitation from the Mayor of Athens to visit Greece from 12-14 August, participating in the Athens Olympics VIP programme.

The Greek Minister for Rural Development and Foodstuffs, Mr. Evangelos Basiakos, visited Korea from 30 October 1 November.

IV. Cultural relations The Greek community

There is no Greek community as such in S. Korea, although it is estimated that some 100-150 Greeks work there annually on a temporary basis, taking delivery of ships purchased by Greek companies at the shipyards of Ulsan, Pusan and Mokpo.

The elevation of the Exarchate of North and South Korea to the level of a Metropolitan diocese has been the major event for the Orthodox Church in Korea in recent years. The enthronement of the new Metropolitan Bishop, Sotirios, took place on 20 June. There are six Orthodox communities in Korea, with churches, chapels, a nunnery, schools preparing children in their catechism, Orthodox student associations, Orthodox young peoples associations, etc. The Seoul mission centre houses a Hellenic-Korean Society, which manages a small museum of replicas of exhibits from the Athens Archaeological Museum, a gift from the Greek Ministry of Culture.

V. Economic relations

According to figures from the Korean Customs Service, Greek exports to S. Korea in 2004 amounted to 109.4m dollars. Imports from S. Korea totalled 1.7 billion dollars. 

Greece not only succeeded in maintaining its export levels from 2003 (104.4m dollars) but actually achieved an increase of 4.8% in 2004. It is worth noting that Greek exports in the two years 2003 and 2004 more than tripled in comparison with 2000-2002. Our exports to S. Korea  are mainly comprised of primary products or materials (85%). In the area of agricultural produce, exports of unprocessed tobacco rose by 13% and those of olive oil more than doubled in comparison with 2003 levels. Exports of non-carded cotton recorded a massive increase, from 70,000 dollars in 2003 to 6.6m dollars in 2004. However, exports of preserved fruits (e.g. peaches) and vegetables (olives) fell by 32%. Exports of wines, non-existent in 2000-02, reached 47,000 dollars in 2003, and then more than doubled to 101,000 dollars in 2004, ranking Greece 15th among S. Koreas main suppliers.

The bulk of our imports are in the form of merchant shipping (1.29 billion dollars). The Greek fleet is the main customer of the Korean shipyards. In 2003 48 merchant vessels were ordered from Koreas main yards, 43 in 2004. Ship purchases in 2004 remained at about the same level as the previous year. Car imports increased by 51% and imports of other vehicles (trams, closed trucks, lorries, etc.) by 100%. Imports of radio and TV sets, video and cassette recorders and radio telephone equipment also recorded a significant 77% increase.  Likewise, imports of diesel engines rose by 511%.

Greece ranks 69^th among S. Koreas international suppliers, and 25^th among importers of Korean products.

a) Greece-S. Korea trade (in US$ 1,000)

(Source:  Korea Customs Service)

b) Main export products (2004)

-On the S. Korean side: boats, vehicles of all kinds, and vehicle parts, radio telephone systems, TV sets, diesel engines, tyres, A/C systems.

- On the Greek side: oil-based products, unprocessed tobacco, unprocessed cotton, scrap, building stone (marble, etc.), olive oil, processed furs and leathers, peaches, olives, cosmetics, medicines, automated control systems, automated data processing machinery.

In detail, trade in the main products between the two countries in 2003 and 2004 was as follows:

a) S. Korean exports to Greece (in 1,000 US$)

(Source: rea Customs Services)

b) Greek exports to S. Korea (in 1,000 US$)

Source: Korea Customs Service