Seoul: President Lee Jae-myung stated that South Korea's recent nuclear plant export agreement with the Czech Republic has paved the way for expanding bilateral economic cooperation in a phone call with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Wednesday. This marked their first official discussion, during which both leaders welcomed the final contract's signing for the nuclear power plant construction project and expressed optimism that it would serve as a foundation for deeper economic relations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung conveyed that the leaders are committed to extending this collaboration beyond nuclear energy. They aim to include high-tech industries, infrastructure, and energy, working towards comprehensive cooperation across a wide range of sectors. Kang briefed reporters on the leaders' commitment to broadening the scope of their economic partnership.

On June 4, the state-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. finalized the contract to construct a nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic after overcoming a court injunction that had previously hindered the deal. The contract, valued at an estimated 26 trillion won (US$18.6 billion), represents South Korea's first international nuclear power plant agreement since 2009, when it secured a deal to build the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates.