Republic of Korea

Diplomatic relations between Brazil and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) were established in 1959. South Korea opened its first embassy in Latin America in 1962, in Rio de Janeiro. In 1965, Brazil opened its embassy in Seoul.

The recent history of relations between Brazil and South Korea is distinguished, primarily, by the growing flow of investment and trade, as well as by the favorable prospects for cooperation in science, technology and innovation. Sectors such as semiconductors, information and communication technologies, biotechnology and nanotechnology have great potential for cooperation.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in South Korean investments in Brazil, especially in the electronics, automobile, oil and steel sectors. The stock of South Korean investments in Brazil is of nearly $7.2 billion, with a flow of $232 million in 2020 and $588 million in 2021. Bilateral trade reached $10.8 billion in 2021. South Korea was, that year, Brazil's 8th largest trading partner in the world and the 3rd largest in Asia, behind only China and India. In addition, there is an expected increase in the flow of trade with the signing of the Mercosur-South Korea agreement, whose negotiations were launched in May 2018 in Seoul and are still under way.

The last bilateral meeting at the presidential level took place in March 2018, when the then Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon traveled to Brazil to participate in the 8th World Water Forum.

Brazil and South Korea maintain several bilateral dialogue forums: Political Consultations Mechanism; Brazil–Korea Forum; Agricultural Advisory Committee; Science, Technology and Innovation Joint Commission; Joint Committee for the Promotion of Trade and Investment and Industrial Cooperation; and Consultations Mechanism on Energy and Mineral Resources. The Political Consultations Mechanism, the main forum for the broad discussion of the bilateral agenda and international policy issues, was established in 1996 and convened its 11th and last meeting in Seoul, in October 2021.

Brazil is home to an significant community of South Korean origin, with more than 60,000 people, mainly based in the city of São Paulo. It is the largest Korean community in Latin America, the third largest Korean population outside of Asia and the eleventh in the world. The first group of 109 pioneers left the city of Busan in December 1962, arriving in Santos in February 1963.

Chronology of bilateral relations

2019 – Brazil-South Korea – Celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations (October 31)

2019 – Foreign Ministers  Ernesto Araújo and  Kang Kyung-wha meet on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos (January)

2019 – Celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Brazil and South Korea

2018 –Foreign  Minister Aloysio Nunes visits South Korea in the context of the launch of trade negotiations between Mercosur and the Republic of Korea (May) [Joint statement] [Press statement]

2018 –Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon visits Brazil on the occasion of the 8th World Water Forum (March)

2017 –South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam visits Brazil (December)

2015 – South Korean President Park Geun-hye visits Brazil (April) [Adopted Acts] [Press Statement]

2014 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul visits Brazil (December)

2014 –The President of the Federal Supreme Court, Minister Ricardo Lewandowski, visits South Korea (October)

2013 – Bilateral meeting between Foreign Ministers Antonio Patriota and Kim Sung-hwan on the sidelines of the UNSC Open Debate on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts, in New York (February)

2012 - Signing of the Social Security Agreement (November)

2012 –President Lee Myung-bak participates in the Rio+20 Conference (June)

2012 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Kim Sung-hwan, visits Brazil, when he meets with Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota (May) [Act adopted]

2012 – The Vice President of the Republic, Michel Temer, visits South Korea for the Second Nuclear Security Summit, when he meets with Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik (March)

2011 – Bilateral meeting between Foreign Ministers Antonio Patriota and Kim Sung-hwan on the sidelines of the UNGA, in New York (September)

2011 – Visit of the Speaker of the Lower House, Deputy Marco Maia, to participate in the G20 Parliamentary meeting in Seoul (May)

2011 – Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik visits Brazil to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Dilma Rousseff (January)

2010 – Bilateral meeting between Presidents Lula and Lee Myung-bak on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Seoul (November)

2010 – The President of the National Assembly, Kim Hyong-O, visits Brazil (May)

2008 –President Lee Myung-bak visits Brazil (November)

2008 – Bilateral meeting between President Lula and President Lee Myung-bak on the sidelines of the G-8 Summit, in Hokkaido (Japan) (July)

2006 –Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Defense (March)

2006 – South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Kyu-hyung visits Brazil (January)

2005 – Memorandum of Understanding on Information Technology Center in Brazil (December)

2005 – Memorandum of Understanding establishing Agricultural Advisory Committee (May)

2005 –President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visits  South Korea (May)

2004 – Memorandum of Understanding on Energy and Mineral Resources (November)

2004 – President Roh Moo-hyun visits  Brazil (October)

2002 - Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (December)

2001 – Visit of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso to South Korea, when the Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy and the Agreement on Visa Waiver were signed (January)

1999 – Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil visits Brazil

1996 - Agreement on Cooperation in Tourism

1996 - Establishment of the Political Consultations Mechanism

1996 –President Kim Young-sam visits Brazil

1995 –Foreign Minister Gong Ro-myung visits Brazil, when the Extradition Treaty is sig

1992 - Air Services Agreement

1991 – Foreign Minister Francisco Rezek visits Seoul, when the Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology is signed

1989 – Establishment of the Brazil-Korea Joint Commission

1987 – Convention to avoid double taxation

1973 –Foreign Minister Kim Yong-shik visits Brazil

1970 – Opening of the Consulate General of South Korea in São Paulo

1970 – Paik Too-chin, Special Envoy of the  President of the Republic of Korea, Park Chung-hee, visits Brazil

1966 - Cultural Agreement

1965 – Opening of the Brazilian Embassy in Seoul

1963 - Trade Agreement

1963 – Beginning of the Korean immigration to Brazil

1962 – Opening of the South Korean Embassy in Rio de Janeiro

1959 - Establishment of diplomatic relations