Malaysia–South Korea relations

Malaysia–South Korea relations

Malaysia	South Korea

Malaysia–South Korea relations are the bilateral foreign relations between Malaysia and South Korea. Malaysia has an embassy in Seoul, and South Korea has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The two countries established relations in 1960.^[1] After cutting ties with North Korea in 2021 over an extradition, Malaysia recognized the Republic of Korea as the sole legitimate government of all of Korea.

History

Minister for Agriculture of Malaysia Khir Johari and the foreign minister of South Korea Choe Deok-sin sign the first ever trade agreement between those two countries in Seoul, 1962-11-05.

Relations between the two countries began on 23 February 1960 with visits between the leaders of each nation.^[2]

Economic relations

The Penang Bridge, jointly built by Hyundai and Malaysian companies, was Southeast Asia's longest bridge upon its completion in 1985.

Since 1980, South Korea emerged as one of Malaysia's main foreign direct investment sources. Until 1996, a total of 235 South Korean investments projects to Malaysia worth RM4.6 billion were approved for the manufacturing sector, comprising the production of non-metallic products, electrical and electronic products, wood and wood products, rubber products and chemicals.^[2] From 2004 until 2008, Malaysia's trade with South Korea increased by 6.7% from US$9.7 billion in 2004 to US$15.4 billion. In 2012, another 287 projects have been implemented with an investment of RM7.7 billion.^[2] The trade value reached almost US$20 billion in 2018, making Malaysia as the South Korea's 14th largest business partner.^[3] In 2018, South Korean SK Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Malaysia to invest in the latter by collaborating in information and communications technology (ICT) and 5G, oil and gas, green technology and urban development.^[4]

Movement of people

The number of South Korean expatriates in Malaysia nearly tripled between 2005 and 2007, reaching 14,934 individuals, and is expected to continue to grow rapidly.^[5][6][7] Furthermore, around 200,000 South Korean tourists came to Malaysia in 2006; Kota Kinabalu was their most popular destination.^[1]

Malaysians in South Korea form a much smaller community. The Malaysian ambassador to South Korea, M. Santhananaban, estimated in 2005 that there were 400 Malaysian international students in the country.^[8] Their presence in South Korea is an outgrowth of Mahathir Mohamad's "Look East" policy, which encouraged Malaysians to learn from and emulate the attitudes and work ethic of South Korea and Japan.^[9] In 2008, the South Korean government gave out scholarships totalling RM8 million to forty-one Malaysian students to support their pursuit of master's degrees, doctoral degrees, or other post-graduate research in South Korea.^[10]

See also

• Koreans in Malaysia

References

1. Roslan Ariffin (8 March 2007). "Najib Dijangka Kukuhkan Hubungan Dua Hala M'sia-Korea Selatan" (in Malay). Bernama. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
2. Uqbah Iqbal (2016). South Korea's interest in the Malaysian socio-economic development. The history of the "Look-To-The-East Idea". Grin. p. 44. ISBN 978-3-6682015-5-2. Retrieved 25 November 2017. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
3. "Ambassador's Greetings". Retrieved 20 February 2022.
4. Amir Hisyam Rasid (23 February 2018). "South Korean SK Group signs MoU with Malaysia". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
5. [재외국민/단체] (Overseas citizens/groups) (in Korean). Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of Korea. 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
6. [2005년도 재외동포현황] (2005 Present Status of Overseas Compatriots) (in Korean). Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of Korea. 2005. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
7. Zoe Phoon (26 November 2007). "Hwan Young Hap Ni Da". New Straits Times Property. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
8. Won-sup Yoon (12 December 2005). "Roh's Visit Boost Bilateral Relations: Ambassador". The Korea Times. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
9. Machado, Kit G. (June 1987), "Malaysian Cultural Relations with Japan and South Korea in the 1980s: Looking East", Asian Survey, 27 (6): 638–660, doi:10.2307/2644541, JSTOR 2644541
10. "Korean govt awards scholarships to Malaysian students". The Star. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2008.

External links

• Persatuan Pelajar Malaysia Korea (Malaysian Students Association in Korea)