Full Breakdown
Kazakhstan-South Korea Strategic Partnership Expands Ahead of First Korea-Central Asia Summit
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: MoU on Peaceful Nuclear Energy Signed
On September 15, 2026, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The MoU was one of 13 documents signed that day, covering crude oil, science and technology, and other sectors.
Background & Context
South Korea’s “New Northern Policy,” launched in 2017, seeks to diversify energy and mineral supplies by deepening ties with Central Asia. Kazakhstan, a major producer of uranium, lithium, and other critical minerals, is a key partner in that strategy. Earlier visits by senior officials and Korean corporations laid the groundwork for joint projects in automotive manufacturing, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and space technologies.
Timeline
- September 13 2026 – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed meets President Tokayev on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.
- September 14 2026 – Uzbekistan signs 13 cooperation documents with South Korea; President Tokayev meets Korean corporate leaders in Seoul.
- September 15 2026 – MoU on nuclear energy signed; additional agreements on crude oil, AI, and critical minerals are concluded.
- September 16 2026 (scheduled) – First Korea-Central Asia Summit in Seoul, hosted by President Lee Jae Myung, with leaders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
Data & Statistics
- 67 investment initiatives worth US$6.9 billion are slated for development in Alatau City, alongside 51 joint industrial projects covering automotive, AI, and space sectors.
- Hyundai-related automotive output in Kazakhstan reached 52,040 vehicles in 2025; Kia operations began in Kostanay the same year.
- Trade between Kazakhstan, the other Central Asian states, and South Korea totaled about US$12 billion last year, with over 1,000 joint ventures in manufacturing.
- Kazakhstan’s transit cargo volume approached 40 million tons in 2025, with a target of 100 million tons annually.
Official Statements & Responses
- The presidential office framed the MoU as a step toward diversifying energy and mineral supply chains.
- President Tokayev highlighted the “Declaration on Enhanced Strategic Partnership” adopted five years earlier.
- Prime Minister Han Seong-sook urged Korean businesses to apply advanced technology to Kazakhstan’s mineral exploration.
- Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev discussed Alatau City’s power infrastructure with KEPCO, Doosan Enerbility, and the Global Green Growth Institute, including a possible 2 × 250 MW gas-fired plant that could later transition to hydrogen.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Despite the fact that our countries are separated by significant distances, we are brought closer by mutual respect and common interests,” — Jomart Tokayev
- “The strengthening of friendship between Kazakhstan and Korea meets the common interests of our two peoples,” — Jomart Tokayev
- “Peace and strategic stability are necessary conditions for economic and sustainable development,” — Jomart Tokayev
Why It Matters
The expanding portfolio links South Korean technology and capital with Kazakhstan’s mineral wealth and logistics position, aiming to reduce reliance on traditional supply routes. Development of Alatau City as a “smart city” and a hydrogen-ready power plant signal a shift toward low-carbon industrialization in Central Asia. Strengthened cooperation may reshape regional supply-chain dynamics for critical minerals essential to batteries, semiconductors, and renewable-energy technologies.
What's Next
The September 16 summit will host a high-level business forum with roughly 500 government and corporate representatives, expected to finalize additional agreements on AI, smart-city development, and joint investment funds. A Kazakhstan-Korea joint investment fund is under discussion to channel Korean capital into infrastructure and energy projects, including modernization of Kazakhstan’s transport network and the Alatau Smart City master plan.