Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will make an official visit to South Korea on January 12-13 at the invitation of President Lee Jae-myung.
Kang Yu-jeong, senior presidential spokesperson, announced the visit in a written briefing on Friday. This marks the first bilateral visit by a Polish prime minister in 27 years and Tusk’s first bilateral visit to a non-European country since taking office.
The two leaders will hold a summit meeting on Monday morning, followed by a joint press statement and an official luncheon. During the talks, they plan to discuss a wide range of measures to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries across various sectors.
“As Poland is a key member of the European Union and NATO, the leaders will hold in-depth discussions on major regional developments and responses to global issues, including the recent Middle East conflict,” Kang said.
Poland, ranked among the world’s top 20 economies, is an economic powerhouse in Central Europe and a key gateway to European markets. Leveraging its strategic location connecting Western and Eastern Europe and its favorable investment environment, Poland has emerged as a major production hub in Europe and is gaining attention as a strategic base for future industries including advanced technology sectors.
Amid growing geopolitical uncertainty, the two countries have strengthened mutually beneficial defense cooperation, signing a large-scale comprehensive defense contract in 2022. Approximately 400 Korean companies producing electric vehicle batteries, parts, and materials have established operations in Poland, while annual mutual visits between citizens of both countries reach 100,000, reflecting active exchange and cooperation.
“Prime Minister Tusk’s visit is expected to serve as an important milestone in developing the bilateral relationship, which has grown steadily since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1989, in a more future-oriented and strategic direction,” Kang said.