Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Receives Special Envoy of the Republic of Korea

Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received Kang Hoon-sik, the Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea. The key outcome of the meeting was the invitation for the President of Kazakhstan to attend the first "Republic of Korea – Central Asia" summit, scheduled to take place in Seoul in September 2026.

During the meeting, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that South Korea is one of Kazakhstan's key strategic partners. The President expressed confidence that the upcoming high-level negotiations would provide a fresh impetus to strengthening bilateral ties.

"Your visit is of great importance for further strengthening Kazakh-Korean interaction. I am confident that through joint efforts, the cooperation between our countries will continue to develop progressively," the Head of State noted.

Special Envoy Kang Hoon-sik conveyed Seoul's interest in strengthening investment ties with Kazakhstan. The main topics of the negotiations included:

• Energy: Implementation of joint projects;

• Transport and Logistics: Increasing transit potential;

• Political Support: Kang Hoon-sik extended his congratulations on the successful conduct of the referendum regarding Kazakhstan's new Constitution.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Kang Hoon-sik presented Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with an official invitation from the President of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung. The inaugural "Republic of Korea – Central Asia" summit, to be held in Seoul in September 2026, is set to become a new mechanism for regional cooperation.

Previously, media reports indicated that South Korea intends to increase its purchase of Kazakh oil due to conflicts in the Middle East. This issue is also expected to be a major topic on the agenda of the upcoming visit.