Cambodia and South Korea Look to the Next 30 Years of Partnership at Royal Academy Seminar
The Royal Academy of Cambodia and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea brought scholars, officials and students together in Phnom Penh to review three decades of cooperation and map out the next 30 years of the partnership.
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The Royal Academy of Cambodia and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea held a seminar in Phnom Penh on 26 October 2026 on the future direction of Cambodia–Korea relations, as the two countries approach the 30th anniversary of the restoration of their diplomatic ties. The event was co-chaired by H.E. Sok Touch, President of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, and H.E. Kim Changyong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Cambodia.
Key points
- The seminar was held in Phnom Penh on 26 October 2026, co-organised by the Royal Academy of Cambodia and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea.
- It looked ahead to the 30th anniversary of restored diplomatic relations, which were re-established on 30 October 1997.
- Cambodia and South Korea first established diplomatic relations on 18 May 1970 and became strategic partners in 2024.
- Discussions covered investment, trade, development aid, security cooperation and people-to-people exchange.
Officials and staff of the academy and the embassy were joined by representatives of the Ministry of Interior, trainees from the Royal School of Administration, monastic students and other students of the academy, making the seminar a meeting point between today's decision-makers and the next generation.
From 1970 to a strategic partnership
Cambodia and South Korea first established diplomatic relations on 18 May 1970. Ties were later interrupted during Cambodia's years of political upheaval, before being restored on 30 October 1997 under the leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, today President of the Senate. H.E. Sok Touch described that decision as a sign of the political will and long-term vision of the two countries' leaders, grounded in mutual respect, trust and shared interests.
He went further, calling the relationship a model of what an international partnership can be. In his remarks, H.E. Kim Changyong said he was glad to join the celebration of three decades of renewed ties, and recalled how cooperation has grown across investment, trade, development assistance, security and exchanges between the two peoples. Cambodians and Koreans, he noted, have worked and invested side by side for many years, building a deep reservoir of trust. That steady progress led the two countries to raise their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2024.
Planning the decades ahead
The seminar was organised around two themes: a review of Cambodia–Korea cooperation over the past 30 years and the shape it could take over the next 30, and the future of joint work against cross-border crime. Participants exchanged ideas on how the two countries can build on their achievements and keep the partnership growing.
The ambassador expressed hope that the anniversary would help both sides consolidate what has been achieved and strengthen the partnership further in the decades to come. With South Korea a long-standing source of investment, development cooperation and visitors for Cambodia, the seminar offered a timely look at a relationship that both countries clearly intend to deepen.
Sources: AKP.
Frequently asked questions
When did Cambodia and South Korea restore diplomatic relations?
Diplomatic relations were restored on 30 October 1997, after being first established on 18 May 1970.
What kind of partnership do Cambodia and South Korea have?
The two countries upgraded their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2024.
Who organised the seminar?
The Royal Academy of Cambodia and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Cambodia co-organised it in Phnom Penh on 26 October 2026.
