Parlt speaker: Deepening Estonia-Korea cooperation offers major growth opportunities

TALLINN - During a meeting on Monday with Woo Won-shik, speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, who is visiting Estonia, President of the Estonian parliament Lauri Hussar said that Estonia and South Korea's deepening defense and digital cooperation, along with expanding economic ties, present major growth opportunities for both countries and businesses.

At the meeting, Hussar said the strong relationship between Estonia and Korea is rooted in shared values such as freedom, democracy, and support for the rules-based international order, as well as close cooperation across many sectors. He noted that ties have been strengthened by the opening of Estonia's embassy and business hub in Seoul in early 2023 and Korea's embassy in Tallinn this March.

Hussar emphasized that in today's tense security environment, which has led to significantly increased defense spending, close defense cooperation is vital for both countries. As part of that cooperation, Estonia has procured K9 self-propelled howitzers from South Korea.

"In addition to cooperation between defense industries, we are also expanding digital cooperation and are ready to share our experience and place greater focus on cooperation in the field of cyber defense," he said.

The meeting confirmed that growing economic cooperation offers substantial opportunities, and also highlighted the importance of promoting cultural ties and tourism. A recent example noted was the participation of the Daegu Opera Theater in this year's Saaremaa Opera Days. The speakers also underlined the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and the need to further strengthen interparliamentary relations.

Hussar pointed out that a 12-member Estonia-Korea parliamentary friendship group has been formed in the Riigikogu. Last fall, a delegation of the foreign affairs committee visited Korea, and in April, environment committee chair Yoko Alender visited Seoul with a business delegation.

"The role of parliamentary diplomacy has grown significantly over the past three years, ever since Russia launched its full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine," Hussar said, and reaffirmed Estonia's intention to deepen ties between the parliaments.

Also attending the speakers' meeting were Estonia-Korea parliamentary group chair Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart and members Yoko Alender and Urve Tiidus.

The speaker of the Korean National Assembly arrived in Estonia on Sunday and met with the Korean community. During his three-day visit, he will also meet with President Alar Karis and visit the e-Estonia Briefing Center. In addition, he will tour the Estonian Open Air Museum, Kadriorg Art Museum, Palmse Manor, and the Viru bog.