When did South Korea and Croatia establish and upgrade their diplomatic relationship?

South Korea and Croatia established diplomatic ties in 1992. Their relationship was upgraded to a comprehensive, future-oriented partnership in 2023, according to Cho Jeong-sik’s office.

How could Croatia’s Chunmoo purchase expand South Korea-Croatia defense cooperation?

The 18-system Chunmoo purchase could expand cooperation beyond arms exports into industrial partnerships and military logistics support. The system has a range of up to 80 kilometers and supports both precision strikes and cluster attacks.

Parliamentary speaker Cho discusses energy, defense cooperation with Croatian president

Q: What did Cho Jeong-sik discuss with Croatia’s leaders in Zagreb?

Cho Jeong-sik discussed strengthening South Korea-Croatia cooperation in energy and defense with President Zoran Milanovic, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. He also called for closer ties in the economy and culture.

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Summary

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik met Croatia’s president, parliament speaker and prime minister in Zagreb on Friday to seek stronger energy and defense cooperation. The meetings highlighted bilateral ties established in 1992 and upgraded to a comprehensive, future-oriented partnership in 2023. Cho also promoted broader economic, cultural, defense and energy cooperation following Hanwha Aerospace’s Chunmoo export deal with Croatia.

Key Facts

Hanwha Aerospace signed a 640 billion won ($477 million) contract to export 18 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems to Croatia.
The Chunmoo deal is the first major arms contract between South Korea and Croatia and could lead to industrial cooperation and military logistics support.
Croatia is the fourth European country to acquire the Chunmoo system, after Poland, Estonia and Norway.
Cho is visiting Italy, Vatican City, Croatia and Greece during a nine-day, four-nation trip.
The Chunmoo system has an operational range of up to 80 kilometers and can conduct precision strikes and cluster attacks over a wide area.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 10, 2026 11:36 am KST
Updated Oct 10, 2026 12:00 pm KST

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik, left, poses for a photo with Croatian President Zoran Milanovic in Zagreb, Croatia, Saturday. Yonhap

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik has held a series of meetings with Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to seek energy and defense cooperation between the two nations, his office said Saturday.

In a meeting with the Croatian president in Zagreb on Friday (local time), Cho said the two countries have been maintaining friendly, cooperative relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1992, which were upgraded to a comprehensive, future-oriented partnership in 2023.

Cho has been on a four-nation trip to Italy, Vatican City, Croatia and Greece over nine days.

In a separate meeting with the Croatian prime minister, Cho also said the two countries should solidify their ties in the economy, culture, defense and energy sectors, highlighting a recent arms supply deal.

Last month, South Korean defense firm Hanwha Aerospace signed a deal to export 18 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) to Croatia in an arms contract worth some 640 billion won ($477 million), marking the first major arms deal between the two countries, opening up avenues for greater partnership beyond arms exports, such as industrial cooperation and military logistics support.

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik, left, poses for a photo with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in Zagreb, Croatia, Saturday. Yonhap

Croatia has become the fourth European country to acquire the Chunmoo system, following Poland, Estonia and Norway.

It has an operational range of up to 80 kilometers, capable of executing both targeted precision strikes and cluster attacks to wipe out enemy targets over a wide area.

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