South Korea expands Latin America trade outreach

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

• [● 15 SOURCES] Lee Jae Myung visited Argentina, the first South Korean presidential visit in 22 years.
• [● 14 SOURCES] Lee Jae Myung praised Argentina’s RIGI and Super RIGI regimes as catalysts for large projects.
• [● 8 SOURCES] Lee Jae Myung and Javier Milei signed a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals, especially lithium.
• [● 6 SOURCES] The MoU aims to promote joint projects across the lithium value chain, including exploration, extraction, processing and refining.
• [● 5 SOURCES] Chile and South Korea will modernise their 2004 free‑trade agreement and reactivate a joint FTA committee.
• [● 4 SOURCES] Chile and South Korea signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on critical minerals such as copper and lithium.
• [● 4 SOURCES] Presidents José Antonio Kast and Lee Jae Myung signed five memoranda of understanding in Santiago.
• [● 4 SOURCES] President Lee praised Argentina’s Regime of Incentives for Large Investments (RIGI and “Super RIGI”) as a catalyst for major projects.
• [● 4 SOURCES] Posco received RIGI benefits for its Sal de Oro lithium project, a $207.9 million investment.
• [● 3 SOURCES] Chile and South Korea will co‑host the 2028 United Nations Ocean Conference.
• [● 3 SOURCES] South Korea and Argentina discussed resuming negotiations on a free‑trade agreement between South Korea and Mercosur.
• [● 3 SOURCES] South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited Argentina, the first South Korean presidential visit in 22 years.
• [● 3 SOURCES] South Korea and Argentina discussed resuming stalled Korea‑Mercosur free‑trade agreement negotiations.
• [● 3 SOURCES] South Korean steelmaker Posco received RIGI benefits for its Sal de Oro lithium project, a $207.9 million investment.
• [● 3 SOURCES] The leaders discussed cooperation in artificial intelligence, energy and food sectors.
• [● 3 SOURCES] South Korea and Argentina agreed to resume negotiations on a free‑trade agreement between South Korea and Mercosur.
• [● 3 SOURCES] The leaders discussed cooperation on artificial intelligence as a driver of economic growth.
• [● 3 SOURCES] South Korea will begin regular imports of Argentine crude oil from next year after a trial import of 880,000 barrels.
• [● 3 SOURCES] South Korea and Argentina finalized a double‑taxation avoidance agreement.
• [● 2 SOURCES] Chile is the world’s largest copper producer and the second‑largest lithium producer.
• [● 2 SOURCES] Bilateral trade between South Korea and Chile reached US$6.991 billion in the previous year.
• [● 2 SOURCES] The agreements include cooperation on critical‑minerals supply chains, the defence industry and advanced manufacturing.
• [● 2 SOURCES] First Lady Kim Hea Kyung visited Santiago’s Pre‑Columbian Art Museum and said it felt like traveling back 3,000 years.
• [● 2 SOURCES] The Brazil‑South Korea Business Roundtable was held in São Paulo on 28 July 2026, chaired by Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and President Lee Jae Myung.
• [● 2 SOURCES] Seven memoranda of understanding were signed, including an aerospace cooperation MOU between Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Embraer.
• [● 2 SOURCES] Lee Jae Myung arrived in Argentina, the first South Korean presidential visit to the country in 22 years.
• [● 2 SOURCES] Lee Jae Myung met Argentine President Javier Milei to discuss lithium supply‑chain cooperation and restarting Korea‑Mercosur trade negotiations.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] The agreements were signed during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s official visit to Chile at a ceremony in the Palacio de La Moneda.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] Agreements also cover police cooperation, maritime‑guard collaboration, Antarctic research institutes and investment‑promotion agencies.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 30 senior executives from Brazil and South Korea participated, discussing manufacturing, advanced industries, and consumer goods.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] JBS signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean company Highland Foods to expand its presence in South Korea and other markets.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] Additional MoUs were signed between Apex and KOTRA, Embrapii and KIAT, Finep and KIAT, Eurofarma and SK Biopharmaceuticals, and Embraer and KAI.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] Bilateral trade between Brazil and South Korea totals about US$11 billion, with Brazil accounting for roughly 1 % of Korean imports.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] Brazil supplies roughly 80 % of the chicken imported by South Korea and leads coffee exports to the country.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] Negotiations are ongoing to open the South Korean market for Brazilian beef and fruits such as grapes, melons and lemons.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] The Korea‑Chile FTA, in force since 2004, has increased trade fourfold but lacks coverage of AI, digital trade and critical minerals.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] Argentina holds the world’s fourth‑largest lithium reserves.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] South Korea aims to diversify its critical‑mineral supply chains and secure lithium for batteries and semiconductors.
• [○ 1 SOURCE] National Security Adviser Wi Sung‑lac participated in the talks and highlighted the MoU on critical minerals.

Timeline

1. about 2 months ago

   [INTERNATIONAL] 24 sources

   South Korean President Lee Jae Myung signs minerals MoU with Argentina

   Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Argentina led to a critical‑minerals MoU, plans for Argentine crude imports, a double‑tax treaty and renewed talks on a Korea‑Mercosur free‑trade pact.

2. about 2 months ago

   [BUSINESS] 4 sources

   Brazil‑South Korea Business Roundtable Yields Multiple MoUs and Trade Deals

   Brazil‑South Korea Business Roundtable in São Paulo secured seven MoUs, including JBS‑Highland Foods, aerospace ties, and trade deals as bilateral trade reaches $11 bn.

3. about 2 months ago

   [POLITICS] 12 sources

   South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chilean President Kast sign five bilateral agreements

   South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chilean President Kast signed five memoranda on minerals, security, Antarctic research and trade, pledged to modernise their 2004 FTA, co‑host the 2028 UN Ocean summit,

Sources

airevision.com.ar · asiesnuestravida.com.ar · beefpoint.com.br · biz.heraldcorp.com · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · delabahia.com.ar · economis.com.ar · elveedordigital.com · europesays.com · exclusiva.com.ar · g5noticias.cl · gulfnews.com · jornalentrevista.com.br · koreaherald.com · koreatimes.co.kr · m.hani.co.kr · m.imaeil.com · m.koreaherald.com · m.koreatimes.co.kr · mendozatoday.com.ar · muzikbox.com · news.az · news.donga.com · news.heraldcorp.com · noticias.perfil.com · prensa-latina.cu · radiopolar.com · revistaplus.com.py · seoul.co.kr · somosjujuy.com.ar · stv.seoul.co.kr · telecom.co.nz · udgtv.com · world-today-news.com · worldenergynews.com