Relationship dossier
Iraq
South Korea
Relationship assessment
Practical cooperation in reconstruction, energy, and economic development
Iraq toward South Korea
+35The Iraqi government has engaged South Korea through bilateral economic cooperation and energy arrangements involving South Korean companies, including a contract for development of the Akkas gas field. The implementation and present scope of these arrangements are unclear.
South Korea toward Iraq
+45South Korea deployed the Zaytun Division to Iraq from 2004 to 2008 and supported reconstruction. South Korean government-backed financing and cooperation also supported Iraqi development projects.
Overall relationship
+40The relationship has a practical cooperative foundation in South Korean reconstruction support and troop deployment, alongside Iraqi energy and economic arrangements involving South Korean companies. These features support a positive assessment, although the durability and breadth of cooperation beyond those areas are less clear.
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
Iraq and South Korea have maintained practical cooperation in reconstruction, energy, and economic development. South Korea deployed the Zaytun Division in Iraq and supported reconstruction, while Iraqi government energy and economic arrangements have involved South Korean companies and bilateral cooperation. The relationship has included substantial cooperation, though its breadth and continuity across policy areas are less clear.
Key developments
South Korea deployed the Zaytun Division to Iraq, where it supported reconstruction and security-related work.
Iraq awarded South Korea's KOGAS a contract to develop the Akkas gas field.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of Iraqi-South Korean economic and energy arrangements are unclear.
- The continuity of bilateral cooperation after the major reconstruction and troop deployment period is uncertain.