- Negotiations
The government of South Korea has concluded, or is pursuing negotiations for, a number of bilateral free trade and investment agreements. Korean social movements have been mobilizing in opposition to these ever since the Korea-Chile FTA was proposed. So far, South Korea has signed deals with Chile (2004), EFTA (2004), Singapore (2005), ASEAN (2007) the US (2007, ratified in 2011), Peru (2011) and Turkey (2012). Talks are under way with Canada, China, Mexico, India, the EU and, technically speaking, Japan. Negotiations with Colombia have stalled over Colombia’s demands for access for better terms for its fruit and flower exports than what Korea gives Chile and Peru. Seoul is also looking to open discussions with Mercosur, Malaysia, Mexico and possibly Israel.
last update: May 2012
Photo: Joe Mabel / CC BY-SA 3.0
22-Jan-2026
Mexico Business News
Mexico and South Korea are advancing talks to finalize a bilateral free trade agreement aimed at lowering tariffs and boosting economic cooperation. The renewed momentum follows a high-level parliamentary exchange, with Mexico pledging to support negotiations and facilitate the process.
21-Jan-2026
Pulse
South Korea and China will open the 13th round of follow-up negotiations on services and investment under the Korea-China free trade agreement (FTA) on Monday in Beijing.
21-Jan-2026
Yonhap News Agency
Peru is set to become the latest member of the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), opening new opportunities for South Korea and other member nations, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
16-Dec-2025
The Korea Herald
The agreement eases the rules of origin for Korean automobiles and consumer goods exports to the UK, while expanding market access for Korean firms in Britain’s high-speed rail and services sectors.
1-Dec-2025
Korea Post
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced that South Korea and Serbia have begun their first official round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), taking place in Seoul from December 1 to 4.
11-Nov-2025
Pulse
South Korea and the United Kingdom are set to begin talks next week to finalize an upgraded Free Trade Agreement (FTA), focusing on business-friendly rules of origin and digital trade standards.
17-Sep-2025
The Korea Times
Mexico and Korea are poised to revive stalled Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks, driven by a $29 billion trade volume and strong bilateral investment, with both nations seeking deeper economic integration.
8-Sep-2025
Yonhap
Both countries will work to speed up the talks to reach a forward-looking agreement that addresses newly emerging economic issues, including digital trade and supply chain resilience.
3-Sep-2025
The Chosun Daily
South Korea has officially signed its first free trade agreement under President Lee Jae-myung’s administration: the Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement (SECA) with Ecuador.
22-Aug-2025
Fibre2Fashion
British and South Korean officials yesterday agreed to speed up talks to upgrade a bilateral FTA as part of their efforts to expand trade and investment. Five rounds of negotiation are over and both sides pledged to complete the talks by the year end at a bilateral senior economic dialogue in Seoul.
Links
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KoPA is a coalition of around 50 NGOs, social movement organizations, political parties, peasant organizations and trade unions working, among other things, to stop bilateral and regional free trade agreements and the WTO.
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