South Korean ambassador visits Tartu
Tartu City Government Press Release
/ On 5–6 June, Ileung Kim, the ambassador of South Korea to Estonia, visited Tartu. During his visit, he familiarised himself with the activities of Tartu’s research institutions and business sector.
Tartu Mayor Urmas Klaas said that the meeting focused on a Memorandum of Cooperation between the city of Tartu and the Korean province of Gangwon. ‘As a centre of research and development, Tartu is a good partner for innovative Korean companies. We have a strong academic base, a rapidly developing business environment, and openness to international cooperation. Such international cooperation provides excellent growth and development opportunities for research institutions and companies alike,’ said Mayor Klaas.
According to Ambassador Ileung Kim, ‘the purpose of the visit to Tartu was to explore ways to boost cooperation between Estonia and Korea in the areas of the economy, research, and innovation. As the first Korean Ambassador to Estonia, I will do my best to further develop our bilateral relations. We are maintaining very close contact with the Estonian Embassy and the Estonian Business Hub Seoul to ensure that we meet the needs of businesspeople from both countries.’
During his visit to Tartu University Hospital, the ambassador met with members of the hospital’s management board to discuss ongoing cooperation negotiations between hospitals in Tartu and Gangwon. Kim was also introduced to a cooperation project between the Korean company Geomexsoft and the hospital, the aim of which is to prevent patient falls using artificial intelligence.
The University of Tartu and Sparkup Tartu Science Park see several opportunities for initiating joint development projects with South Korea. Kim’s visit provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of the embassy’s role in establishing the necessary contacts and raising the profile of Tartu’s research institutions in South Korea.
From the perspective of promoting the local economy, Kim’s meeting with leading biotechnology companies in Tartu was very important. Ele Reiljan, a management board member of Solis BioDyne, who met with the ambassador, said that it is essential for them to cooperate with technology leaders with an international presence. ‘The Korean research and business environment offers many opportunities for cooperation, and the ambassador’s visit helped to further strengthen these contacts,’ said Reiljan.
The cultural highlight of the visit to Tartu was the performance of ‘ARI: The Spirit of Korea’ organised by the South Korean Embassy at the Vanemuine Theatre. The musical performance introduced Korean history, culture, and customs. Insung Hwang, Deputy Head of the South Korean Embassy, noted that the embassy’s first major public event in Estonia was consciously organised in Tartu. ‘When it comes to culture, Tartu is at the forefront in Estonia,’ said Hwang.
As a continuation of Korean-Estonian cooperation, the Enterprise Business and Innovation Agency has announced the opportunity for virtual business meetings with South Korean business partners. Companies from the Estonian pharmaceutical, health and biotechnology sectors are welcome to apply.
In March of this year, the city of Tartu and the Sparkup Tartu Science Park signed Memoranda of Cooperation with Gangwon Province in South Korea and its technology park. The aim is to create new opportunities for business and research cooperation between the two countries and regions at various levels.
In 2024, various delegations from Gangwon Province in South Korea visited Tartu on three occasions to learn about Estonia’s success stories in the fields of health and information technology, and to learn about opportunities for technology and innovation cooperation in Tartu.
Contact person: Roomer Tarajev, Tartu City Government Department of Business Development, +372 5303 3638
Last changed 09.06.2025
