European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen visits Republic of Korea, 3rd EU-RoK Digital Partnership Council
Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen visited Seoul from Thursday 27 November to Saturday 29 November in light of the 3rd Digital Partnership Council launched in 2022 and to exchange views with Korean counterparts.
During her visit, EVP Virkkunen held a meeting with Korean business leaders active in the semiconductor industry and hosted a roundtable with major Korean AI companies to discuss the current landscape and evolving challenges in advanced technologies.
EU Delegation to the Republic of Korea, 2025
A meeting with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-gwan was held to discuss economic security and the digital trade agreement, and to exchange views on key advanced sectors, including semiconductors, AI and batteries.
EU Delegation to the Republic of Korea, 2025
EVP Virkkunen also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon, with whom she co-chaired the third Digital Partnership Council Meeting.
EU Delegation to the Republic of Korea, 2025
Both sides reviewed progress since the second EU-ROK Digital Partnership Council in Brussels (24 March 2024) and recognised that the Digital Partnership has brought important outcomes in various digital fields. Building on this success, both sides agreed that the Digital Partnership will be further deepened and to involve stakeholders in its implementation to foster industry cooperation.
Through the Digital Partnership, the EU and the ROK will continue joint work on research and innovation on emerging technologies, such as semiconductors, 6G, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technologies. This cooperation is designed to boost future competitiveness, innovation and technological leadership while building stronger economic security through greater resilience in critical technologies, including cybersecurity.
EU Delegation to the Republic of Korea, 2025
“Today’s meeting has reaffirmed the commitment of the EU and the Republic of Korea to continue to work together to boost our innovation and competitiveness, to ensure our economic security and to build a digital environment that reflects our shared values. I look forward to continuing our digital partnership.” - Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
EU Delegation to the Republic of Korea, 2025
Through EVP Virkkunen’s visit, the EU and the Republic of Korea recognized the longstanding strategic partnership in the economic and technological fields and agreed on the importance of strengthening future-oriented cooperation covering economic security and advanced industries.
EU Delegation to the Republic of Korea, 2025
For more information on 3rd Digital Partnership Council:
- EU and the Republic of Korea reinforce tech and digital cooperation at the third Digital Partnership Council [European Commission] (28 Nov, 2025) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_2837
- Joint Statement of the third meeting of the EU-Republic of Korea Digital Partnership Council [European Commission] (28 Nov, 2025) https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/joint-statement-third-meeting-eu-republic-korea-digital-partnership-council
EVP Virkkunen's Interviews:
- Democracies at risk of persistent foreign manipulation, EU official warns [Korea Times] (1 Dec, 2025) https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20251201/democracies-at-risk-of-persistent-foreign-manipulation-eu-official-warns
- EU Warns of Russia's Hybrid Threats from Drones to Cyberattacks [Chosun Daily] (2 Dec, 2025) https://www.chosun.com/english/world-en/2025/12/02/DHXHBKK3DFDQLE2CSMIR2H5SXY/