NIAS Africa Studies

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CWA # 1463, 30 August 2024
NIAS Africa Studies
South Korea-Africa relations: Objectives and challenges

  Vetriselvi Baskaran

On 3 June, South Korea hosted the two-day Korea-Africa summit for the first time under the theme, “The Future We Make Together: Shared Growth, Sustainability, and Solidarity.” Delegations from 48 African countries participated in the summit. It focussed on expanding trade, technology and investment. The summit launched the Critical Minerals Dialogue aimed at stabilising supply chains. 

Mauritania’s President and the current chair of the AU Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol jointly stated: “Recognizing Korea’s leadership in advanced industries and Africa’s significance as a globally important region for critical mineral reserves, we emphasise the need to expand mutually beneficial cooperation and knowledge sharing, including at the minilateral level, to promote the development of industries related to critical minerals.”

A brief background to South Korea-Africa relations
South Korea-Africa relations began in the 1950s during the Korean War. African countries including Ethiopia, South Africa, Liberia, Egypt and Morocco fought for South Korea with the French units. Diplomatic relations strengthened during the 1980s. In 1982, to host the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan visited Kenya, Nigeria, Gabon, and Senegal for the first time and expanded diplomatic relations. In 2005, South Korea gained observer status in the AU, providing a larger space for cooperation between both. Following this, South Korea declared the year 2006 as “the year of friendship with Africa," and introduced Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) and the Korea-Africa Forum (KOAF). Currently, South Korea has embassies in 25 African countries which impels a robust diplomatic presence. 

South Korea’s footprints in Africa
1. Political relations. Africa-South Korea political relations strengthened with multiple continuous state visits. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha visited South Africa in 2019. They adopted the "Seoul Declaration,” an action plan for 2013-15 in 2012, and the Addis Ababa Declaration in 2016. Since 2012, South Korean Presidents visited Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, and Sierra Leone for consecutive years until 2022. The South Korea-Africa Foundation was established in 2018, to strengthen political, economic, and aid footprints in Africa. These developments laid the groundwork for contemporary political relations between South Korea and African countries. 

2. Economic relations. South Korea is one of the largest trading partners of Africa, in several sectors including automobile, machinery and electronics. In 2024, trade between Africa and South Korea reached nearly 20 billion, predominantly in the sectors of critical minerals, technology, energy, defence, and agriculture. Cultural ties are promoted through the “Hallyu” phenomenon where Korean pop culture, including K-pop music, dramas, and films, has gained popularity across the continent. This concept increased tourism between South Korea and Africa. According to Statistica, South Africa is the most popular destination in Africa for Korean tourists. South Korea also provides scholarships for African students to study in South Korea.

3. Military ties. South Korean defence firms began investing in African countries recently. In 2022, Korea Aerospace Industries signed an agreement to manufacture advanced training aircraft in Egypt. Both countries signed a USD 1.7 billion deal for the delivery of K9 self-propelled howitzers manufactured by Hanwha. South Korea has signed a bilateral military cooperation agreement with Egypt.

South Korea’s Africa objectives
1. Securing access to critical minerals. South Korea depends on African countries for critical minerals to produce semiconductors and Electric Vehicles (EVs). The country meets 95 per cent of its mineral needs through imports. Africa has long been a source for South Korea and has been recently increasing its investments in the sector. In 2023, Korean EV battery maker LG Energy Solution signed an agreement with Morocco to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide. Similarly, mining firms in Madagascar and Tanzania upgraded the graphite supply chain to South Korea. With Tanzania, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to provide concessional loans worth USD 2.5 billion to invest in the mining sector. However, Chinese dominance in the sector has been hindering South Korea’s foothold in Africa. Besides, poor governance of mining resources, conflicts, and environmental concerns such as land degradation, loss of biodiversity, water pollution, and displacement are major challenges for South Korea to expand its footprints in Africa

2. Plans to expand trade and investment. This year, for the first time, South Korea hosted an Africa summit intending to expand its footprints in the continent. As major powers and emerging Asian powers are focusing on Africa’s market potential, South Korea also seek to expand its trade and investment to position itself as Africa’s one of relevant partners. However, the success of these objectives depends on South Korea’s ability to overcome the challenges including Africa’s lack of infrastructure, poor economic policies, asymmetric trade balances, and South Korea’s less dominance in Africa compared to other Asian powers. 

3. South Korea’s “Global pivotal state” aim. The concept of a global pivotal state entails positioning South Korea as a significant player in international affairs by moving beyond its traditional focus on the Korean peninsula. South Korea sees Africa as a crucial partner in the global south as it could garner support for its international positioning by diversifying its markets and strengthening bilateral relations.

Africa’s objectives with South Korea 
1. Africa’s preference towards emerging Asian countries. African countries increasingly seek to collaborate with Asian countries, particularly Japan, India and South Korea. Asia’s emerging economies demand African markets and natural resources. Africa welcomes emerging Asian powers with shared global south identity, and mutual respect without colonial burden as an alternative to the traditional Western partners. 

2. Emphasis on digital technology and knowledge sharing. Kenya collaborated with South Korea in the Konza Digital Media City Project to advance the digital technology ecosystem in East Africa. The Korea-backed Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is under process. South Korean companies including Samsung, LG, Hyundai and KIA are popular in several African countries. African countries desire to access South Korean technology and expertise in sectors including smart infrastructure, digital transformation, and agriculture. African countries including Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, and Guinea Bissau depend on South Korea for rice production under the ‘K-rice belt’ initiative. Africa aims to secure assistance from Korean research institutions to develop new breeds of corps. For instance, South Korean state-run research institute KOPIA’s technological intervention increased farmers’ income in Kenya. In Uganda, Korea-supported water management technology resulted in increased orange production. 

Conclusion
South Korea-Africa's growing collaboration is vital in upholding the aims they have put forth. Both share issues including economic expansion and climate change, implying potential for areas of cooperation and mutual growth. The perceived neocolonial nature of the West in Africa and the scepticism towards China and Russia provide opportunities for other Asian countries like China, Japan, and South Korea to offer developmental assistance by negating political influence. Further, the non-intrusive nature of Asian countries in political affairs unlike the Western partners builds trust. The evolving partnerships with Africa and South Korea are promising, with mutual benefits, despite challenges. 

About the author
Vetriselvi Baskaran is a Research Assistant at NIAS.

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