Turkey pitches itself to Korea as energy hub, supply chain bridge between Asia, Europe

Turkish Ambassador Salih Murat Tamer, center, attends a press conference at the Embassy of Turkey in Seoul, April 21. The embassy's Communications Counsellor Sercan Dogan, left, and Commercial Counsellor Ozlem Untez also take part in the event. Korea Times photo by Anna J. Park

Turkish ambassador to Korea Salih Murat Tamer made a pitch for deeper bilateral ties, arguing that his country's geographic position, energy infrastructure and deliberate neutrality in regional conflicts make it a natural and reliable partner for Seoul amid growing global uncertainty.

Speaking at a press conference at the Turkish Embassy in Seoul, April 21, Tamer highlighted Turkey’s strategic position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, noting that the country has accumulated significant experience in “managing crises” over decades and continues to operate with strategic insight shaped by that history.

The ambassador went on to stress that this positioning makes Turkey a complementary partner to Korea and called for stronger bilateral cooperation.

“Turkey has worked to diversify energy sources and establish a stable, uninterrupted energy network connecting East and West,” Tamer said. “With advanced transportation and logistics infrastructure, Turkey has become a key hub in global trade. In this regard, Turkey serves as a reliable and complementary partner for Korea, which relies heavily on energy imports and is deeply integrated into global supply chains.”

The ambassador pointed out that Turkey lies at the center of regional liquified natural gas (LNG) flows, including major lines such as the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), with an annual capacity of around 30 billion cubic meters, and the TurkStream pipeline, which can transport 31.5 billion cubic meters annually. He added that LNG terminals and underground storage facilities further strengthen the country’s energy supply security.

This infrastructure, he said, provides Korean companies active in the global LNG market with opportunities to expand into European and Mediterranean markets via Turkey.

Turkish Ambassador Silah Murat Tamer, right, speaks during a press conference at the Embassy of Turkey in Seoul, April 21. Korea Times photo by Anna J. Park

Tamer also emphasized that his country's strength lies not only in its geographic position but also in its flexible yet principled foreign policy.

“In recent crises, Turkey has not taken sides but has maintained open and honest communication with all parties, playing an active role in easing tensions and seeking solutions,” he said. “This approach has allowed Turkey to position itself not just as an observer, but as a trusted mediator and provider of stability.”

He underlined that such policies have helped them maintain economic stability even during regional crises, including those involving Iran. The ambassador said the country's financial systems, ports and airports have continued to operate without disruption, underscoring that Turkey remains a safe destination, particularly for tourism.

“Turkey offers a safe transit point, a stable economic partner and a predictable investment environment for countries affected by uncertainty,” Tamer said.

He said major global airports in Istanbul, Antalya and Izmir continue to provide strong global connectivity, while well-developed port infrastructure positions the country as a logistics hub linking the regions together. He emphasized that this could serve as a strategic alternative when diversifying supply chains between Korea and Europe.

The ambassador also highlighted growing tourism exchanges, noting that around 226,000 Korean visitors traveled to Turkey last year. Despite regional uncertainties, tourism continues to grow, reinforcing the country’s status as a trusted and safe destination for Korean travelers.

When asked about further areas of cooperation, Tamer said he firmly believes that “risks and crises create opportunities for every country,” and expressed hope that bilateral cooperation between the two nations will deepen across a range of sectors, including energy, technology, defense, renewable energy and nuclear power.