SNAPSHOTS

In South Korea, Yoon's Desire for Supply Chains and Prestige Points to Africa

Jun 11, 2024 | 15:52 GMT

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) speaks as Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (L), chair of the African Union, listens during a joint press conference following the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit in Goyang, South Korea, on June 4, 2024.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) speaks as Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (L), chair of the African Union, listens during a joint press conference following the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit in Goyang, South Korea, on June 4, 2024.

(Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)

The inaugural Korea-Africa Summit indicates President Yoon Suk Yeol's grand vision for South Korea as a global power, but his plans will face security, economic and political constraints that have long plagued other developed nations active in Africa. South Korean President Yoon hosted the inaugural Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul from June 4-5, attracting delegates from 48 African countries and enabling Yoon to meet with 25 African leaders in sideline meetings. At the summit, attendees signed various cooperation agreements, with a heavy emphasis on Seoul providing development assistance and deepening state-to-state ties in trade, infrastructure and critical minerals. In a joint statement released by Seoul on June 4, the countries agreed to launch the Korea-Africa Critical Minerals Dialogue, with Yoon emphasizing the need for minerals -- highlighting cobalt, chrome and manganese -- in electric vehicles, EV batteries and various other renewable energy technologies amid supply chain insecurity. Seoul signed over 50...

Subscribe to view this article

Subscribe Now

Subscribe

Already have an account?