Korea and Czech Republic Sign 14 MOUs to Strengthen Cooperation in Strategic Industries Including Nuclear Power and Batteries

"Close Communication to Ensure
Nuclear Power Plant Contract Is Finalized Soon"

Anduk Geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, held a meeting with Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, at the Prime Minister's Office in Prague on the 7th (local time), with the government special envoy delegation in attendance, discussing cooperation plans in industry, energy, construction, infrastructure, and science and technology between the two countries. Photo by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Joint Press Corps

The governments of South Korea and the Czech Republic have agreed to strengthen cooperation in strategic industries such as nuclear power and batteries.

A government special envoy delegation, including Anduk Geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, and a National Assembly delegation led by Lee Cheolkyu of the People Power Party, met with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Senate President Milos Vystrcil in the Czech Republic on the 7th (local time). During the meeting, they signed a total of 14 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) focusing on cooperation in nuclear energy and advanced industries.

The government special envoy delegation included Park Sangwoo, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Choi Wonho, Chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission; Kang Inseon, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; Lee Changyun, First Vice Minister of Science and ICT; and Kim Seongseop, Vice Minister of SMEs and Startups. The National Assembly delegation was composed of lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties, including Park Sungmin, Kang Seungkyu, Heo Seongmu, Lee Jooyoung, and Park Sangwoong.

In particular, Minister Anduk Geun and Minister Blazek signed the "Korea-Czech Nuclear Industry Cooperation Arrangement," which concretizes the MOU signed in September 2024. The two countries also agreed to cooperate on the successful implementation of the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project, joint entry into third-country markets, and the construction of two additional nuclear reactors.

The two ministers went on to sign the "Korea-Czech Battery Cooperation MOU" and agreed to establish a cooperative framework to jointly respond to the upcoming implementation of the European Union (EU) Battery Regulation. As a result, cooperation in advanced industries such as automobiles and batteries is expected to be further strengthened.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and "Team Korea" signed 10 agreements and MOUs with Czech companies for cooperation on the construction of new nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic. In addition to the nuclear industry, the two countries also laid the groundwork for expanding strategic cooperation in advanced industries.

The two countries also signed a Letter of Agreement to establish an Industrial Cooperation Center to implement the "Vltava Advanced Industry Cooperation Vision" announced in September 2024. Going forward, the Korea Automotive Technology Institute and the Technical University of Ostrava in the Czech Republic plan to jointly establish an Automotive Cooperation Center, while the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement and the Czech Technical University in Prague will establish a Robot Cooperation Center. Through these initiatives, the two countries plan to systematically expand cooperation in research and development (R&D), human resources training, and demonstration projects.

The National Assembly delegation and the government special envoy delegation also met with Senate President Vystrcil and others to discuss cooperation at the parliamentary level in nuclear energy, energy, construction, and advanced industries.

Minister Anduk Geun stated, "As we mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between South Korea and the Czech Republic, the two countries are building an even stronger relationship of trust. We will continue to communicate closely with the Czech side to ensure that the currently pending contracts are finalized as soon as possible."