Relationship dossier
Canada
South Korea
Relationship assessment
A close strategic and economic partnership, reinforced by a free trade agreement and expanded cooperation.
Canada toward South Korea
+65Canada's government has pursued economic and strategic cooperation with South Korea, including through the bilateral free trade agreement in force since 2015 and the comprehensive strategic partnership announced in 2022.
South Korea toward Canada
+65South Korea's government has pursued economic and strategic cooperation with Canada, including through the bilateral free trade agreement in force since 2015 and the comprehensive strategic partnership announced in 2022.
Overall relationship
+65The relationship is structured by a durable trade agreement and an expanded strategic partnership that gives the governments a framework for cooperation on economic and security issues. The partnership is substantial, though the available facts do not indicate a formal mutual-defense alliance.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Canada and South Korea maintain a close, expanding partnership. Their bilateral free trade agreement, in force since 2015, supports economic ties, and the two governments elevated the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022, with cooperation encompassing security and economic priorities.
Key developments
The Canada–Korea Free Trade Agreement entered into force, creating a bilateral framework for trade liberalization.
The governments announced a comprehensive strategic partnership, broadening cooperation across strategic and economic priorities.
Major uncertainties
- The implementation and scope of newer security and economic cooperation initiatives may evolve.