Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa met in Seoul with Woo Won‑shik, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, to discuss opportunities for strengthening economic cooperation and to mark a new chapter in Latvia–Korea bilateral relations.

As emphasised by the Speaker of the Korean Parliament, who visited Latvia in May last year, we are guests at our first meeting and friends when we meet again. Both sides agreed that this may serve as a good starting point for a strong and long‑lasting friendship between the two countries.

“Latvia is currently facing important choices, in particular with regard to strengthening its energy capacity. Your experience in this field is very valuable to us,” emphasised the Speaker of the Saeima, noting that global developments, including the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, directly affect everyday life, especially the energy sector. The parties discussed opportunities for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, with particular emphasis on small modular reactors.

The parties also discussed ways to promote the activities of Korean companies in Latvia. Several Latvian companies are operating successfully in Korea, including peat exports. Latvia is the largest supplier of peat to Korea, with Latvian companies providing around 70 percent of Korea’s total demand.

Looking ahead, the Speaker of the Saeima highlighted broad opportunities for cooperation in agriculture and tourism, noting that direct air links between Latvia and Korea would be particularly important.

Cooperation in security and defence was also discussed. The Speaker of the Saeima invited Korea to join the drone coalition led by Latvia, contributing to research and development efforts.

As emphasised by D. Mieriņa, an important objective is to strengthen Latvian culture while remaining open to global influences, from traditions to contemporary culture. Underlining the importance of cultural ties, the Speaker of the Saeima invited the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, as well as representatives of the Government, to visit Latvia in 2028 during the Song and Dance Festival.

The Saeima delegation visiting the Republic of Korea also includes Andris Kulbergs, Member of the Saeima Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee.

In Seoul, the Latvian delegation also met with Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok of the Republic of Korea, Members of the National Assembly, and Minister of National Defence Ahn Gyu‑back to discuss closer cooperation. D. Mieriņa also met with representatives of the Latvian diaspora and with Korean business representatives cooperating with Latvia. The Saeima delegation visited Doosan Enerbility, the country’s leading energy and heavy industry company.

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Saeima Press Service