Monday to Friday,
08:00 ~ 12:30
Except Embassy Holidays
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, visits between the two countries have been expanding involving the President, Deputy President, Ministers, Parliamentarians, Provincial Premiers, government officials, scholars, cultural groups, mayors and war veterans. The following are a selection of high-level visit to and from South Korea:
2009 :
From 17 to 19 December a delegation led by Mr Geoffrey Qhena, the CEO of Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) visited Korea to sign a MOU on mutual cooperation with the Korea Development Bank (KDB).
From 15 to 17 December Mr Victor Mathale, NEPAD Advisor for Private Sector Initiatives attended the Korea-Africa Seminar on Investment for Infrastructure and Energy hosted by the Korean Ministry of Knowledge and Economy in collaboration with UNECA.
From 27 to 29 November a delegation from the Parliament of South Africa attended the 2009 International Parliamentarians’ Coalition for North Korean Refugees and Human Rights (IPCNKR).
From 24 to 28 November a delegation from Coega Development Corporation (CDC) visited Korea to learn Korea’s experience in the development of Industrial Development Zones of Korea.
From 23 to 25 November a SA Delegation led by Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim of International Relations and Cooperation Department visited Korea to attend the Second Korea-Africa Forum held in Seoul. The Korea-Africa Forum (KAF), a regular channel for dialogue between Korea and Africa was established in 2006. The second Korea-Africa Forum has adopted 'The 2009 Seoul Declaration' in which Korea committed to doubling the official development aid by 2012.
From 15 to 19 November a SA delegation led by Dr Chris Sheffer, Chief Director for Bilateral Cooperation in the Department of Science and Technology attended the 3rd Joint Committee on Science and Technology to discuss cooperation in science and technology projects.
From 8 to 15 November Ms Zanele Hlatshwayo, Mayor of Pietermaritzburg visited Korea to learn Korea’s experience on agriculture, municipal development and IT.
From 3 to 4 November the National Treasury represented by Ms Mokgadi Tena and Mr Paul Graham from IDASA
(Institute for Democracy in South Africa)
attended ODA Conference in Seoul.
From 27 to 30 October a delegation led by HE Collins Chabane, Minister in the Presidency for Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation visited Korea to attend the 3rd OECD World Forum on Statistics, Knowledge and Policy held in Busan, Korea.
From 7 to 8 September a delegation led by Rector Dan Kgwadi from North West University visited Korea to sign a MOU with Hanseo University on the exchange programme of education and culture.
From 15 to 16 June a delegation led by Vice Principal Prof Crewe
from the University of Pretoria
visited Korea to sign a MOU with Sogang University on the mutual cooperation.
From 8 to 9 December the delegation led by Ambassador J Matjila, Deputy Director-General, Asia and the Middle East, Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Korea to attend the 4th Policy Consultative Meeting (PCM) between South Africa and Korea.
From 23 to 29 November the delegation from Coega Development Corporation (CDC) visited Korea to learn successful development experience from industrial development zones and look for inward investment opportunities into South Africa especially in the fields of metal and energy.
From 28 October to 4 November Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism paid a visit to Korea to attend the 10th RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands in Changwon.
From 1 to 6 September Mr Zolile Tini, Board Chairman of the ELIDZ(East London Industrial Development Zone) led a a delegation from ELIDZ, ECDC(Eastern Cape Development Cooperation) and the Department of Trade and Industry to visit Korea to look for inward investment opportunities into the Elidz and the East London area in general.
From 31 August to 5 September, Chief Justice Pius Nkonzo Langa led a delegation for a visit to Korea to attend the 20th anniversary of the Constitutional Courts of Korea and the International Symposium.
From 29 June to 4 July a delegation led by Mrs. Maseokwane Violet Meruti, Committee Whip
of Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises in the South African Parliament visited Korea to study the industrialisation potential associated with the nuclear build programme.
From 28 June to 1 July, Mr Membathisi Mphumzi Shepherd Mdladlana, Minister of Labour and his delegation visited Korea to attend the 18th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work
From 22 to 25 June, Ms Mpho Baleni, Assistant Director from the Chief Directorate:UN visited Korea to attend Conference on UN Peacekeeping Operations.
From 20 to 22 June, Mr Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, Minister of Envionmental Affairs and Tourism visited Korea to attend the 4th Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change.
From 15 to 18 June, Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, Minister of Communications visited Korea to attend the 2008 OECD Ministerial Meeting.
From 29 April to 1 May, Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, Director-General of Department of Foreign Affairs visited Korea.
From 26 April to 1 May, a delegation led by Mrs Sindiswa Gaven, Director of Department of Minerals and Energy visited Korea to attend an investment seminar "South Africa's Natural Resources and Benefication thereof".
From 22 to 25 April, a delegation led by Mr Vuwani Ndwamato, Director of Air Transport, Department of Transport visited Korea to attend the bilateral civil aviation consultation between Korea and South Africa which ended up signing MOU between the Aeronautical Authorities of the Republic of Korea and the Republic of South Africa on 24 April, 2008 which will make direct flights possible.
From 31 October to 2 November, Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa visited Korea with her delegation and learn the development in IT and transportation sectors Korea has achieved. The Mayor also met with Vice Mayor of Seoul to enhance bilateral cooperation.
From 8 to 9 October, 2007, a delegation from Ministry of Public Enterprises led by Minister Alec Erwin visited Korea. The Minister had a bilateral meeting with the Korean Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy to discuss ways to further enhance the bilateral cooperation. He also met with President of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to share issues of mutual interest.
From 8 to 11 July, Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Ms Lulama Xingwana visited Korea with her delegation and met with her counterpart, Minister of Agriculture and Foresty, Mr Park, Hong-Soo to enhance the bilateral cooperation.
From 24 to 27 June, Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Rev Makhenkesi Arnord Stofile visited Korea to learn from Korea’s experience in hosting the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
From 2 to 4 May, Deputy President, Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka paid a state visit to the Republic of Korea to promote the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA) and obtain institutional support for the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA). The Deputy President was accompanied by Minister of Communications, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry etc. She had discussions with President Roh, Moo-hyun, Prime Minister Han, Duck Soo, Minister of Information and Communication Rho Jun-hyong and business people.
From 24 to 26 April, a delegation led by Mr. Joel Netshitenzhe, Director-General and Head of the Policy Coordination and Advisory Service Unit in the Presidential Office of the Republic of South Africa visited Korea to compare notes and learn from Korean experiences in Policy Coordination.
From 24 to 26 April, Deputy Director-General, Dr. Kamy Chetty led a FIFA Health delegation from the National and Provincial Department of Health to learn from Korea’s experience on health issues during 2002 World Cup.
From 18 to 21 April, Minister of Communications, Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri visited Korea to attend the 2007 IT Ministerial Conference and had a bilateral meeting with her counterpart, Mr Rho, Jun-hyong, Minister of Communications & Information. The two Ministers signed a Joint Statement: Republic of South Africa and Republic of Korea on Cooperation in the field of ICTs and Posts.
From 11 to 16 February, a delegation led by Adv Sandile Nogxina, Director General of the Department of Minerals and Energy visited Korea to enhance cooperation on nuclear energy and training.
From 28 to 29 May 2006, Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon visited South Africa as a part of his three African country tour to discuss further promotion of bilateral cooperation. He paid a courtesy call on President Mbeki.
From 11 to 14 February 2006, the Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae Chan led a Korean delegation to South Africa to attend the 7th Progressive Governance Summit. During the visit, he also met with South African President Thabo Mbeki and former President Nelson Mandela.
From 28 to 29 September 2005, Dr Mkhize Zweli,
MEC of Finance and Economic Development, KZN and his delegation visited Korea to promote KwaZulu-Natal as a viable investment destination.
From 20 to 22 September 2005, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aziz Pahad, visited Korea and met his counterpart, Vice Minister Lee Tae-sik, for bilateral discussions.
From 24 - 27 August 2005, the House Chairperson of the National Assembly, Ms S Botha and Mr LPM Nzimande (MP) visited Korea to attend the Conference "Inter-parliamentarians for Social Service" (IPSS).
On 28 and 29 June 2005 Mr. SJ Son, Director-General of Middle East and African Affairs, Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade led the Korean delegation to the Third Policy Consultative Meeting in Pretoria.
From 19 to 22 June 2005 Mr. Derek Hanekom, Deputy Minister of Science & Technology attended the first South Africa - South Korea Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation.
From 23 to 27 May 2005 Ms GJ Fraser-Moleketi, Minister of Public Service and Administration attended the 6th Global Forum on Reinventing Government an International Innovation Exhibition 2005 (InnoEx2005).
From 6 to 13 September 2004 Deputy Minister of Communications, Mr R R Padayachie attended the ITU Telecom Asia 2004 in Busan, Korea.
From 5 to 9 September 2004 Deputy Minister Sang Gyu Im attended the First Science and Technology Joint Committee in South Africa.
From 14 to 16 June 2004 Dr. Anil Sooklal led the South African delegation to the Second PCM and also paid a courtesy call on Mr. Choi Young-jin, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
From 27 to 29 May 2004 the Minister of Communications, Mrs Matsepe-Casaburri, and the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mrs Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, attended the Global Summit for Women in Seoul.
In April 2004 Dr Huh Sung-Kwan, Minister of Government Administration and Home Affairs, represented South Korea at the South African Presidential Inauguration.
On 19 and 20 April 2004 Mr Danny Jordaan, Representative of the SA World Cup Bid Committee, met with FIFA Executive Dr Jung Mong Joon.
From 26 to 31 March 2004 Ms R T Mabudafhasi, Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, attended the 8th Special Session of the Governing Council of the United National Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the 5th Global Ministerial Environment Forum in Jeju, Korea.
From 22 to 27 February 2004 the then Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Mrs Buyelwa Sonjica, visited Korea to sign the Science and Technology Agreement.
In November 2002 Minister Dullah Omar, the then Minister of Transport, visited Korea to attend the Community of Democracy Conference.
In September 2002 Korean Ministers of Foreign Affairs Choi Sung Hong and Environment Kim Myung Ja, and Chairman Kang Moon-Kyu of the Presidential Committee on Sustainable Development attended the WSSD in South Africa.
In August 2001 Minister of Gender Equality Han Myung-Sook represented Korea at the World Conference against Racism hosted by South Africa.
From 10 - 12 March 2001 former President Mandela again paid a visit to Korea. On this occasion he paid courtesy calls on Prime Minister Han-dong Lee and President Kim Dae-jung.
In January 1999 Foreign Minister Hong Soon-young visited South Africa. Although this was not an official visit, he held discussions with Minister Nzo. In June 1999, Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil attended the inauguration of President Mbeki.
In April 1998 then Deputy President Mbeki paid an official visit to South Korea. He had discussions with then Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil and President Kim Dae-jung, who came to office at the end of 1997.
From 8 to 11 October 1997 Minister Alec Erwin, then Minister of Trade and Industry, visited Korea.
From 15 to 16 April 1997, then Premier of the Western Cape, Mr. Hernis Kriel visited Korea.
In April 1997 a visit to Korea by South African Parliamentary Committee members took place to participate in the international Inter-Parliamentary Conference (IPU), which was held in Seoul.
In April 1996 Foreign Minister Gong Ro-myung led a Korean delegation to South Africa to attend the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD IX) in Midrand, Johannesburg. It was the first visit of a Korean Foreign Minister to South Africa.
In July 1995 then President Nelson Mandela, accompanied by Foreign Minister Nzo and Finance Minister Manuel, paid a very successful visit to South Korea. Presidents Mandela and Kim Young-sam conducted bilateral talks in Seoul inter alia about bilateral trade, Korean investment in South Africa, framework agreements required between the two countries, Korea's bid for a non-Permanent Seat in the United Nations Security Council and Cape Town's bid to host the 2004 Olympics. President Kim promised to encourage Korean companies to participate in the South African economy. Three agreements (on the Avoidance of Double Taxation, Investment Protection and Air Services) were concluded as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the fields of small, medium and micro business enterprises. The visit contributed to increased bilateral trade and in increased Korean investment in South Africa. Tourism from South Korea to South Africa also recorded a rise after the President's visit. The visit, the first of its kind at Presidential level between South Korea and South Africa, had strong symbolic connotations.
From 2 to 4 February 1995, Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo paid a very successful official visit to the Republic of Korea. During the visit the Minister met his Korean counterpart, Minister Gong Ro-Myung, as well as President Kim Young-sam.
In 1995 a visit to South Africa by the Korean Parliamentary Committee on Friendship with South Africa took place.
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