Erdogan Sees South Korea as Partner for Turkey's Sinop Nuclear Plant

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has identified South Korea as a potential partner in developing Turkey’s planned nuclear power plant in Sinop, as Ankara looks to strengthen its energy capabilities and expand economic cooperation with Seoul.

The project, located on Turkey’s Black Sea coast, is part of the country’s broader efforts to increase domestic electricity generation and diversify its energy sources.

Speaking in an interview with South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency ahead of his three-day state visit to Seoul, Erdogan said Turkey considered South Korea a strong potential collaborator for the project.

He added that discussions were continuing with South Korea’s state-run Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to assess the technical and economic requirements of the proposed nuclear facility.

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Turkey Evaluates South Korea’s Nuclear Expertise

Turkey has been examining the feasibility of developing the Sinop nuclear project with South Korean partners. According to Erdogan, preliminary feasibility studies have already been conducted with KEPCO, while both sides continue to assess the project's technical and financial conditions.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on nuclear energy cooperation during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Turkey in November 2025. The agreement covers several areas, including reactor technology, site assessment, licensing, financing arrangements and potential business models.

Erdogan said Turkey recognised South Korea’s experience in nuclear energy and attached considerable importance to the ongoing discussions. However, he stressed that Ankara would not make a final decision until it had examined the project's overall economic benefits.

Factors such as electricity generation costs, financing arrangements and the project's contribution to Turkey's economy will play an important role in determining the country's choice of partner. Erdogan also noted that Turkey was considering discussions with other countries and would evaluate all available options based on its national interests.

The Sinop project is expected to become an important part of Turkey's long-term nuclear energy ambitions, as the country seeks to reduce its dependence on imported energy and improve its electricity supply capacity.

Defence, Technology and Trade in Focus

Beyond nuclear energy, Erdogan identified defence cooperation, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics as important areas where Turkey and South Korea could expand their cooperation.

The Turkish president encouraged South Korean companies to increase investments in Turkey and explore opportunities for joint production and technology development. He also highlighted opportunities in defence manufacturing, particularly in unmanned aerial vehicles, aircraft engine technologies and electronic systems.

Erdogan welcomed South Korea's interest in Turkey's PD170 turbodiesel aircraft engine and said both countries could benefit from closer cooperation in defence technologies.

He also pointed to existing investments by South Korean companies, including Hyundai Motor Group's automotive manufacturing operations and steelmaker POSCO's investments in Turkey. Hyundai's recent move to begin electric vehicle production at its Izmit facility was another example of growing industrial cooperation.

The two countries are also working towards a bilateral trade target of $15 billion. However, Erdogan highlighted the imbalance in existing trade relations. Turkey exported approximately $1.14 billion worth of goods to South Korea in 2025, while imports from South Korea reached $10.26 billion.

He called for a more balanced trade structure supported by increased investment, industrial partnerships and greater collaboration between businesses.

Erdogan also invited South Korean companies to participate in Turkey's transport infrastructure and logistics projects, particularly those connecting Asia and Europe. He said the need for reliable alternative trade routes had become more important amid disruptions to global energy markets and shipping routes.

Erdogan arrived in Seoul on November 2 for his first visit to South Korea since 2018. He is scheduled to meet President Lee Jae Myung on November 3 to discuss bilateral relations and broader regional and international developments.

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The visit comes ahead of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2027. Both governments are seeking to build on their longstanding relationship by expanding cooperation across energy, technology, defence and infrastructure.