ASEAN and South Korean economic ministers agreed in Pasay on September 20 to strengthen trade, investment and supply-chain ties, VietnamPlus reported. They welcomed the launch of talks to upgrade AKFTA; a new agreement has not been completed.
Both sides aim for substantial negotiating progress in 2027, with energy, materials, the green economy and digital economy among areas under consideration. Preliminary figures put bilateral goods trade in 2025 at US$226.1 billion and South Korean foreign direct investment into ASEAN at US$8.9 billion.