Korean Embassy in United Kingdom - Address & Contact

Entry requirements may change without notice. Always check the latest travel advisories on the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before traveling.

Korea and Britain signed a friendship and commerce treaty in 1883 — the same year as treaties with the United States and Germany — making the UK one of Korea's oldest diplomatic partners. Britain fought alongside Korea in the Korean War, contributing around 100,000 troops over the course of the conflict, the third-largest UN commitment. Following Brexit, Korea and the UK concluded a new bilateral Free Trade Agreement (in force since January 2021) that preserved and enhanced the tariff benefits of the prior Korea-EU FTA. The relationship spans defence, intelligence sharing, finance, higher education, and culture, with K-pop and Korean entertainment now prominent in British popular culture.

Two-way trade between Korea and the UK reached approximately $11.8 billion in 2023. Korean exports of $6 billion are led by automobiles (particularly Hyundai and Kia), machinery, electronics, and ships, while British exports of $5.8 billion include vehicles, pharmaceuticals, machinery, whisky, and financial services. The Korea-UK FTA has helped maintain trade volumes post-Brexit, and both governments are exploring an updated agreement to address digital trade, investment, and supply chain resilience.