Although more than 8,000 kilometres separate Iceland and South Korea, the two countries have found common ground, especially in matters of the ocean and trade. Their relationship is rooted in shared interests such as fishing, maritime regulation and the international discussions that come with them.
Diplomacy from a distance
The date of their official diplomatic recognition varies by country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Korea cites October 10, 1962, while Iceland’s foreign ministry records April 19, 1982. Regardless of the discrepancy, formal diplomatic links have persisted. Iceland directs its Korean affairs through its embassy in Beijing, also maintaining two honorary consulates in Seoul. South Korea covers Icelandic matters from Oslo, Norway, with an honorary consulate established in Reykjavík. The two countries conduct much of their diplomatic business remotely rather than relying on resident embassies.
Trade routes and technology
Cooperation between Iceland and South Korea has gone beyond diplomacy. In 2002, a high-level Korean foreign affairs visit to Iceland signalled growing interest in a closer relationship. This was further developed in 2005, when Korea and the European Free Trade Association, of which Iceland is a member, signed a comprehensive agreement to lift tariffs on Korean goods and phase out duties on imports from EFTA nations.
Trade flows are modest but focused. In 2006, South Korea exported mainly automobiles and tires to Iceland, to the value of $36 million USD. Iceland’s main exports to South Korea, worth $13 million USD, were marine products and furs. Improvements in fish processing and transportation technology from both countries have set the stage for greater exchange in this sector.
Views from the North Atlantic and East Asia
The relationship also extends to controversial subjects in marine affairs, especially whaling. Iceland’s continued whale hunts, justified as scientific research according to standards set by the International Whaling Commission, have frequently drawn international scrutiny. South Korea has at times expressed support for Iceland’s position in these debates. Both countries’ shared background as maritime nations influences their approach to fishing regulations and ocean exploitation.
From trade agreements to cooperation over marine resources, Iceland and South Korea demonstrate how geographically distant nations can collaborate on shared priorities, even if much of their diplomacy occurs far from home.
