Korea, Czech Republic deepen energy cooperation

Jung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, right, shakes hands with Ivan Jancarek, the Czech ambassador to Korea, during a meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Jan. 13. Yonhap

Jung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said Jan. 13 that Korea and the Czech Republic have strong potential to deepen cooperation across the energy sector and play an expanded role as strategic and comprehensive partners.

Jung made the remarks during a meeting with Ivan Jancarek, the Czech ambassador to Korea, at the National Assembly in Seoul. He said the two countries share common perspectives on major global challenges, including energy security, carbon neutrality and responses to climate change.

“Korea and the Czech Republic maintain cooperation across the broader energy field, and I believe that as strategic and comprehensive partners, the two countries can play a sufficient and meaningful role together,” Jung said.

Jung pointed to recent high-level exchanges as evidence of growing bilateral engagement. He noted that about a month earlier Korea’s interior and safety minister visited the Czech Republic, where the two sides discussed cooperation in areas such as digital government, disaster and safety management, and local administration. He added that Seoul and Prague were working jointly to further advance collaboration across multiple sectors.

In particular, Jung cited the Dukovany nuclear power plant project as an opportunity to expand cooperation beyond a single project and into broader energy-related areas. He said he understood that both governments were making joint efforts to strengthen ties in energy security and related industries following the project.

Jung also highlighted people-to-people and cultural links between the two countries. “When people think of the Czech Republic, many Koreans recall the Prague Spring, as well as the television drama ‘Lovers in Prague,’ which was very popular in Korea,” he said. He added that he had personally visited locations featured in the drama and was especially impressed by Prague’s distinctive red-colored rooftops.

“Many Koreans stop in the Czech Republic when traveling to and from Europe,” he said. “Koreans have great affection for the Czech Republic and for Prague. They want to maintain friendly and cooperative relations with the Czech people.”

Jancarek welcomed his remarks, saying bilateral relations have steadily deepened over the past several decades. “Our relationship has grown continuously, and we have built a partnership based on shared values, mutual trust and close cooperation across many fields,” he said.

He added that cooperation has expanded not only through visits and exchanges at the level of government ministries but also through closer engagement between the two countries’ legislatures. Jancarek expressed hope that parliamentary exchanges would help further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in the years ahead.