It is my pleasure to welcome you to the official website of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Korea. I look forward to working closely with our Korean partners and friends to explore new opportunities, strengthen our ties, and celebrate the many commonalities that bring us together.
In the six decades since Switzerland and the Republic of Korea established diplomatic relations in 1963, we have built a relationship marked by trust, shared values, and close cooperation. Our two nations, though geographically distant, are united by a commitment to democratic governance, an open and innovative economy, and a vibrant cultural life. Together, they form the bedrock for our strengthening ties.
Switzerland and the Republic of Korea both place a strong emphasis on innovation, quality, and sustainability, while cherishing our rich cultural traditions. Today, our economic and business relations have continued to deepen. The Korea–EFTA Free Trade Agreement will mark its 20th anniversary in 2026. It has allowed to double our bilateral trade over that time and continues to serve as an important framework for expanding trade and investment. Institutional cooperation is also expanding. For instance, Switzerland Global Enterprise and the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration in trade, investment, and innovation. Korean biotech and pharmaceutical companies, through their industry associations, have also partnered with Switzerland Innovation Parks to access the vibrant ecosystem and extend their global reach. While we celebrate these achievements, we remain committed to ensure future benefits to all partners and will strive to modernize this historic agreement.
Among the many dimensions of our bilateral relationship, scientific and technological cooperation stands as one of the most dynamic. In 2023, our two countries reinforced their collaboration across all areas of research, particularly in the fields of digital transformation, biotechnology and quantum technologies, through the signing of a joint declaration. Since the launch of the Swiss-Korean Life Science Initiative in 2016, partnerships among universities, research institutes, startups, and hospitals have increased steadily. Joint calls between Innosuisse and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, as well as between the Swiss National Science Foundation and the National Research Foundation of Korea, have further boosted collaboration in research and development. Against this backdrop, the Embassy’s annual flagship event, the Swiss-Korean Innovation Week, has become an important platform to foster partnerships that extend beyond science and technology into other fields.
While our partnership is focused on the future, it is also rooted in history. Since 1953, Switzerland has been a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, which is supervising the implementation of the Armistice Agreement from Panmunjeom and has thereby contributed to peace and stability for nearly three-quarters of a century. This was Switzerland’s very first military peace mission abroad, and the starting point of a long-standing engagement for peacebuilding and dialogue on the Korean Peninsula.
In the arts, exchanges remain equally vibrant. Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, has expanded its engagement with Korea. It has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gwangju Biennale for the Swiss National Pavilion and runs the Seoul Matchmaking Program, which connects selected Swiss design studios with the Korean design industry. These efforts complement the many successful private cultural ties which the Embassy is happy to support and foster.
One visible symbol of the ever-growing relationship between our countries is the new Swiss Embassy building in Seoul, inaugurated in 2019. Merging traditional Korean aesthetics with sustainable Swiss architectural principles, it serves as a venue for exchange between our two countries. The building also houses the Swiss Business Hub Korea, the Science and Technology Office Seoul, and Switzerland Tourism Korea, making it a hub of bilateral ties across multiple sectors.
Through this website, we strive to offer insights into Switzerland’s multifaceted relationship with Korea, covering politics, the economy, science, culture, and more, as well as practical information on visas, travel, and consular services.
To stay connected, we invite you to subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram.
I hope that you will find this website useful and wish you a pleasant browsing experience.
Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at seoul@eda.admin.ch.
Kind regards
Nadine Olivieri Lozano
Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Korea
