Last week, South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrived in Ethiopia, the first stop on her week-long Africa tour that also includes visits to Kenya and Uganda. In an email interview, J. Berkshire Miller, a fellow on Japan for the Pacific Forum CSIS, discussed South Korea’s ties in Africa.
WPR: How extensive are South Korea’s political and economic ties in Africa, and what countries are its main partners?
J. Berkshire Miller: South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s visit to Africa is meant to underscore her administration’s desire to have a more comprehensive and robust relationship with key states on the continent. As a signal of this drive, Park was accompanied by nearly 200 South Korean business executives who are eyeing enhanced opportunities in Africa.