Iceland–South Korea relations are primarily based on cooperation over maritime issues, such as
whaling
Whaling is the process of hunting of whales for their usable products such as meat and blubber, which can be turned into a type of oil that became increasingly important in the Industrial Revolution.
It was practiced as an organized industr ...
and
bottom trawling
Bottom trawling is trawling (towing a trawl, which is a fishing net) along the seafloor. It is also referred to as "dragging". The scientific community divides bottom trawling into benthic trawling and demersal trawling. Benthic trawling is towing ...
, and on bilateral trade in technology and fish products. Diplomatic relations between
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
and the
Republic of Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...
were established on October 10, 1962 according to the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs gives the date as 19 April 1982. Iceland's Embassy in
Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
is accredited to South Korea, and Iceland also has two honorary consulates in
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...
. South Korea's embassy in
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...
,
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
is accredited to Iceland, and South Korea has an honorary consulate in
Reykjavík
Reykjavík ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a po ...
.
Relations
South Korea's foreign minister Choi Sung-hong visited Iceland in 2002 to discuss increased bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Korea and the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) signed a Free Trade Agreement on December 15, 2005. The agreement eliminated all EFTA tariffs on Korean goods, with plans to phase out Korean tariffs on EFTA goods. In May 2008, the two countries signed an agreement on double taxation.
Trade
In 2006, South Korean exports to Iceland totaled
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
36,000,000, mainly automobiles and tires, while Iceland's exports to South Korea totaled
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
13,000,000, mainly marine products and fur.
[ Progress in fish processing technology and transport has opened up new possibilities for increased trade with Korea.
]
Whaling activities and cooperation
Iceland have been involved in controversy over their continued whaling activity. In the past, South Korea has supported Iceland's whaling position. Iceland hunts whales for "scientific research", although they have passed tests of authenticity for scientific research projects set by the International Whaling Commission
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is a specialised regional fishery management organisation, established under the terms of the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) to "provide for the proper conservation ...
.
See also
* Foreign relations of Iceland
Iceland took control of its foreign affairs in 1918 when it became a sovereign country, the Kingdom of Iceland, in a personal union with the King of Denmark. As a fully independent state, Iceland could have joined the League of Nations in 1918, ...
* Foreign relations of South Korea
South Korea maintains diplomatic relations with 191 countries. The country has also been a member of the United Nations since 1991, when it became a member state at the same time as North Korea. South Korea has also hosted major internation ...
* Iceland–North Korea relations
References
External links
South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Iceland
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iceland-South Korea relations
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
Bilateral relations of South Korea