- The scope of the Digital Partnership includes emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs), such as semiconductors, AI, 5G networks, quantum computing, and cybersecurity.

- In an era of intensifying U.S.-China tech rivalry and recent supply chain disruptions, both the EU and South Korea see their digital collaboration as a strategic imperative for reducing dependencies and securing their economic futures.

- Looking ahead, the EU-ROK Digital Partnership has the potential to evolve from an ambitious framework into a transformative force for innovation, security, and economic resilience.

The European Union (EU) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) launched a bilateral EU-ROK Digital Partnership in November 2022, the EU’s second such pact after the one with Japan, to deepen cooperation in critical digital technologies. Since June 2023, the EU-ROK Digital Partnership has shifted from agenda-setting to early delivery, with the inaugural Digital Partnership Council agreeing to cooperate across semiconductors, high-performance computing (HPC), quantum technologies, 5G and beyond, the platform economy, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity. The second Council meeting took place in March 2024 and added secure network connectivity and closed negotiations on the ROK’s association to Horizon Europe – the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation, thus paving the way for the country’s participation from 2025. The ROK became the first Asian country associated with Horizon Europe, allowing Korean researchers and organisations to participate in EU-funded projects on equal terms with Europeans.

The implementation of the Digital Partnership has been further advancing in July 2024, with partners jointly supporting four semiconductor research and development (R&D) projects and institutionalising an annual EU-ROK Semiconductor Researchers Forum. Furthermore, they also committed to reciprocal access to HPC infrastructure to support joint work, including in quantum and climate modelling. Conversely, regulatory alignment has been progressing in parallel. In March 2025, the sides concluded negotiations on a landmark Digital Trade Agreement, pending signature, that coordinates approaches to privacy, data flows, and digital trade facilitation. The draft commits both not to impose data-localisation or other measures restricting cross-border data transfers, and to promote the legal effect and mutual recognition of electronic documents and signatures. Together, these steps outline a pragmatic roadmap that emphasises targeted co-investment in strategic technologies, anchored by compatible rules for data and digital commerce, and regular Councils providing political accountability. Consequently, the agreement reflects a shared vision for human-centric digital innovation and stronger ties in domains that are becoming pivotal to economic security, national sovereignty, and geopolitical competitiveness.

For the EU, partnering with South Korea bolsters its digital engagement in the Indo-Pacific. It also reflects Brussels’ latest strategic vision to strengthen global digital cooperation and ensure secure digital environments for the EU and its partners, as put forward by the bloc’s International Digital Strategy, adopted in June 2025. It emphasises deepening frameworks such as the EU-ROK Digital Partnership through new projects, linking them via a Digital Partnership Network. The strategy also introduces an integrated Tech Business Offer, combining public-private investment and policy tools in modular packages tailored to partners’ needs. For the EU-ROK Digital Partnership, this creates opportunities for joint capacity-building, innovation cooperation, and alignment on secure, trusted, and interoperable digital infrastructures. Finally, for South Korea, the Digital Partnership with the EU diversifies alliances beyond its traditional United States (U.S.) focus and highlights Seoul’s status as a high-tech leader.

The Digital Partnership: From Vision to High-Tech Reality

The scope of the Digital Partnership includes emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs), such as semiconductors, AI, 5G networks, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. However, transforming its ambitious goals into concrete actions remains an ongoing challenge. Since the pact is non-binding, it relies on both parties to follow through with specific initiatives and allocate resources. In an era of intensifying U.S.-China tech rivalry and recent supply chain disruptions, both the EU and South Korea see their digital collaboration as a strategic imperative for reducing dependencies and securing their economic futures. The sections below assess progress and prospects in four priority areas, from semiconductors, AI, to quantum technologies, followed by key challenges and recommendations for the way forward.

Semiconductors: Building Resilient Supply Chains

Semiconductors – the brains of modern technology in the digital age – are a linchpin of the EU-ROK Digital Partnership. South Korea is a global semiconductor powerhouse, while Europe is working to expand its chip capacity to reduce overreliance on external suppliers. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed serious vulnerabilities in global chip supply chains, highlighting the need for greater resilience and foresight to mitigate potential disruptions. In this respect, through the Digital Partnership, the EU and the ROK exchange information on semiconductor supply issues and coordinate efforts to secure critical digital infrastructure. Early achievements already highlight the benefits of such cooperation, as exemplified by the ROK-EU Joint International Semiconductor Researchers Forum, which now convenes regularly to share insights on chip technologies and supply chain risks.

In 2024, the two sides announced joint support for four semiconductor R&D projects, valued at 12 million euros, about 16.8 billion won, with each side contributing 8.4 billion won over three years, focusing on neuromorphic computing and heterogeneous integration technologies. Overall, such collaborative research leverages complementary strengths, matching the EU’s cutting-edge research expertise with South Korea’s strong industrial know-how, and helps diversify sources of advanced chips. Going forward, both partners are exploring ways to further strengthen the semiconductor supply chain, for instance, by aligning standards and encouraging Korean chipmakers to invest in European production.

Artificial Intelligence: Towards Trustworthy and Human-Centric AI

AI is another cornerstone of the EU-ROK Digital Partnership, with both sides working to harness AI innovation while upholding democratic values. In this regard, a permanent forum for dialogue on AI policy allows Seoul and Brussels to coordinate a framework for human-centric and trustworthy AI. Both the EU and ROK emphasise that AI systems should be transparent, accountable, and aligned with fundamental rights, a principle also underlined by their endorsement of the global Declaration for the Future of the Internet for an open, rights-respecting digital environment. The cooperation in this domain focuses on aligning strategies and standards. As the EU finalises its Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) – the first-ever horizontal and burdensome regulation on AI addressing the risks of AI and positioning Europe to play a leading regulatory role globally, officials are consulting regularly to share best practices and ensure their respective regulations are complementary. In contrast, South Korea adopted a more relaxed, growth-focused approach through voluntary ethical guidelines and strong industrial backing.

In South Korea, leading technology firms such as Samsung, SK, Naver, and Kakao have advanced proprietary AI systems to compete with global players. This industrial dynamism has prompted the Korean government to adopt a comparatively light-touch regulatory approach, prioritising rapid market growth and enhanced international competitiveness. By limiting regulatory constraints, Seoul has sought to maintain the agility of its AI sector and accelerate its ascent in global value chains. Yet, as the societal, ethical, and security implications of AI intensify, South Korea will inevitably need to develop more comprehensive governance frameworks to address emerging risks. Ultimately, the divergence foregrounds a broader policy trade-off between innovation speed and regulatory precaution, shaping the scope for regulatory and normative alignment within the EU-ROK Digital Partnership and their joint influence in global AI governance forums. A permanent EU-ROK AI Council would indeed facilitate ongoing dialogue, align regulatory frameworks, support joint ventures, and strengthen global AI governance.

Quantum Technologies: Preparing for the Next Frontier

Quantum technology is a frontier that the EU and South Korea are determined to approach together. The Digital Partnership designated quantum computing and HPC as priority areas for cooperation, given their potential to revolutionise industries and security paradigms. A bilateral ROK-EU Quantum Technology Expert Working Group aims to identify joint research topics – such as quantum communication networks and simulators – and to align national research efforts.

Institutional support is also growing. A new Korea-Europe Quantum Science Technology Cooperation Centre in Brussels now facilitates workshops and exchanges among scientists, knitting together the two countries’ research communities. By sharing knowledge and pooling expertise, Europe and South Korea hope to accelerate progress in this cutting-edge field and stay competitive with larger players like the U.S. and China. They are also mindful of quantum’s security implications, as both sides have begun exploring post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and other quantum-secure communications to pre-empt future threats to data encryption. Through such forward-looking collaboration, the EU and ROK aim to secure a foothold in the coming quantum era and ensure they help shape the rules governing these transformative technologies.

Challenges and Way Forward

Several challenges could impede the Partnership’s full potential. Its non-binding nature means progress hinges on sustained political will, while reliance on ad-hoc funding and forums risks stalling projects without institutionalised mechanisms. Capability asymmetries, such as the EU’s relative lag in chips and AI, and divergent regulatory regimes could complicate seamless cooperation. Moreover, geopolitical pressures, from Seoul’s balancing act between China and the U.S. to Brussels’ careful navigation of transatlantic ties and strategic autonomy, add further uncertainty. That is why institutionalising gains now will be key to weathering shifts in technology, politics, and global order in the future, while ensuring the Partnership translates political will into concrete innovations that bolster both partners’ security and prosperity in the digital age.

Looking ahead, the EU-ROK Digital Partnership has the potential to evolve from an ambitious framework into a transformative force for innovation, security, and economic resilience. To achieve this, it will require a sustained shared strategic vision, supported by concrete actions. By scaling up early achievements and embedding them in a long-term strategic framework, both partners can not only safeguard their own economic and technological futures anchored in shared democratic values but also shape the rules of the emerging digital order.