Erdogan Calls South Korea ‘Great Potential Collaborator’ on Sinop Nuclear Plant
Erdogan tells Yonhap South Korea is a “great potential collaborator” on Türkiye’s Sinop nuclear plant, but says costs, financing and talks with other countries will decide.
Choose Clash Report as a preferred source and see our reporting first in Top Stories.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls South Korea a “great potential collaborator” on Türkiye’s planned Sinop nuclear plant. He says so in an exclusive written interview with Yonhap News Agency. It was published on Nov. 2, ahead of his state visit to Seoul.
Erdogan also urges deeper cooperation in defense, semiconductors, robotics, artificial intelligence and logistics. He stresses that the final reactor decision will weigh costs, financing, benefits and talks with other countries.
Seoul says the visit runs Nov. 2–4, with a summit with President Lee Jae Myung on Nov. 3. Ankara’s statement lists the trip as Nov. 1–4. It is Erdogan’s first visit to South Korea since 2018, Yonhap reports.
What Erdogan Says About the Sinop Plant
Erdogan says Seoul and Ankara are negotiating over Türkiye’s second nuclear power plant, planned on the Black Sea coast. “We regard the Republic of Korea as a great potential collaborator on this initiative,” he tells Yonhap.
He says Türkiye has run extensive preliminary feasibility studies with Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO). Ankara keeps evaluating the project’s technical and economic conditions, he adds.
“We attach considerable importance to the negotiations we are holding with Korea on this topic,” Erdogan says. He adds that Ankara is well aware of “our Korean friends’ experience with nuclear energy.”
He does not commit to a partner. The final decision will weigh power generation costs, financing arrangements and benefits for the Turkish economy.
Ankara is “taking into account our contacts with other countries,” he says. It is examining “all possible choices in light of our national interests.”
Where the Sinop Project Stands
KEPCO and the Turkiye Nuclear Energy Company signed a memorandum on Nov. 24, 2025, during Lee’s state visit to Ankara. Yonhap reported that it covers technology, site evaluation, licensing, financing packages and business models.
In February, South Korea’s industry minister told Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar that Seoul is the “most suitable” partner. Yonhap reported that Seoul cites 50 years of reactor experience.
Seoul is not alone. In September, Bayraktar said Russia wants to move experience and workforce from Akkuyu to Sinop, Aju Press reported. He added that Türkiye is also discussing nuclear projects with Canada, China and South Korea.
The World Nuclear Association says Sinop has regulatory approval, but no partner or reactor technology has been chosen. It notes that KEPCO’s 2010 bid for Sinop foundered over its demand for government electricity-sales guarantees.
Defense, Chips and Industry
Erdogan sees room to grow cooperation in defense, semiconductors, robotics and artificial intelligence. “Our goal is to transform these prospects into tangible initiatives,” he says, aiming to “enhance reciprocal investments.”
He welcomes South Korea’s interest in Türkiye’s PD170 turbodiesel aircraft engine. He sees significant openings in unmanned aerial vehicles, engine technologies and electronic systems.
Defense ties already run deep. At the 2025 summit, Lee cited Türkiye’s Altay tank program, based on South Korean K2 technology. Erdogan said the first batch had reached the Turkish military, Yonhap reported.
Washington is also looking at both countries’ shipyards. It weighs frigate designs from Türkiye, South Korea and Japan for a new class, Clash Report reported.
Erdogan urges Korean companies to invest and co-produce in Türkiye. “Turkey offers significant opportunities for Korean investors,” he says, pointing to its manufacturing base, skilled workforce and location.
He cites Hyundai Motor Group’s long-running car plant and POSCO’s steel investments as models. He also welcomes Hyundai’s launch of electric vehicle production at its Izmit plant.
Hormuz Risks and the Hejaz Railway
Erdogan calls for more Korean money in Turkish transport and logistics. He cites serious risks to energy markets and trade routes, including those through the Strait of Hormuz.
“The current crisis has once again demonstrated just how vital it is to develop reliable alternative routes,” he says. He points to Asia–Europe links, including plans to revive the historic Hejaz Railway.
“We would like to see greater participation by Korean companies in Turkiye’s regional transport and logistics investments,” Erdogan says. Hormuz is a recurring theme for Ankara, and he raised it with Trump on Oct. 28, Clash Report reported.
The railway first operated in 1908 and ran from Damascus to Medina, Al-Monitor notes. It was badly damaged in World War I.
The revival is not a simple restoration. Türkiye, Syria and Jordan signed a transport memorandum in April. Türkiye and Saudi Arabia signed rail memoranda in June, Al-Monitor reports.
Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu says a direct link could open in “three or four years.” About 400 km of new line is needed between Syria and Jordan, the International Railway Journal reports.
The Trade Gap and the $15 Billion Target
| Indicator | Figure (2025 unless stated) |
|---|---|
| Turkish exports to South Korea | About $1.14 billion |
| Turkish imports from South Korea | $10.26 billion |
| Bilateral trade target | $15 billion |
Erdogan calls the imbalance significant. It is roughly nine to one in South Korea’s favor.
“We have set a target of $15 billion in bilateral trade volume,” he says. He wants “a more balanced trade structure,” more investment and more collaboration in production.
Seoul’s trade ministry gave a different tally in February: a record $10.7 billion in total 2025 trade, Yonhap reported.
Ties “Forged in Blood”
Erdogan describes the bond as one “forged in blood.” Türkiye fought alongside South Korea in the 1950–53 Korean War. Lee called it a “brotherly nation” in Ankara, Yonhap reported.
“It is our responsibility to pass this treasured legacy on to future generations in an even stronger form,” Erdogan says. He believes the visit will “pave the way for concrete steps.”
The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1957 and a strategic partnership in 2012, Seoul’s presidential office says. They mark the 70th anniversary of relations next year.
What Happens Next
The program for Nov. 3 includes a welcome ceremony, the summit, a memorandum-signing ceremony and a state banquet, Seoul says. Ankara says various agreements will be signed. Their details were not public in the sources reviewed.
Erdogan’s wording suggests no Sinop decision is imminent. He would weigh financing, electricity costs and benefits before choosing a partner, Reuters reported.
Choose Clash Report as a preferred source and see our reporting first in Top Stories.