Relationship dossier
South Korea
Taiwan
Relationship assessment
Unofficial ties combine practical fisheries cooperation with the lasting effects of the 1992 diplomatic break.
South Korea toward Taiwan
+5South Korea ended diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1992 and has since maintained unofficial relations. The South Korean government also joined Taiwan in a 2013 fisheries agreement addressing fishing disputes.
Taiwan toward South Korea
+5Taiwan's government maintains unofficial relations with South Korea and joined it in a 2013 fisheries agreement addressing fishing disputes.
Overall relationship
+5The relationship is shaped by South Korea's 1992 diplomatic break with Taiwan and the subsequent conduct of relations on an unofficial basis. The governments have nevertheless cooperated on practical matters, including a bilateral fisheries agreement in 2013. This combination of constrained ties and specific cooperation defines the enduring relationship.
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
South Korea ended diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1992, and the two governments conduct relations on an unofficial basis. Practical cooperation includes a bilateral fisheries agreement reached in 2013, which addressed fishing disputes. Their relationship therefore combines limited, concrete cooperation with the lasting consequences of the diplomatic break.
Areas of tension
- The 1992 diplomatic break and the resulting unofficial character of government relations.
- Fishing disputes addressed through the 2013 fisheries agreement.
Key developments
South Korea ended diplomatic relations with Taiwan as it established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
South Korea and Taiwan reached a fisheries agreement addressing disputes over fishing grounds.
Major uncertainties
- The current scope and implementation of bilateral fisheries cooperation are unclear.
- The extent of other direct government cooperation is uncertain.