Seoul: South Korea could become a "strategic partner" in rebuilding war-torn Ukraine, a ranking senior official of the European country said, highlighting Seoul's strengths in high-speed rail, smart mobility, and green energy technologies that he said will be crucial to transforming Ukraine's infrastructure. Oleksii Kuleba, deputy prime minister for restoration who also serves as minister of communities and territories development, stressed that Ukraine faces destruction on a scale unseen in Europe since World War II, with more than 300,000 buildings damaged or destroyed and recovery in the transport sector alone estimated to cost US$78 billion.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kuleba stated in a written interview that Ukraine's transport system, which includes railways, roads, ports, and airports, requires not just restoration but transformation. During a recent working visit to Seoul, Kuleba held meetings with officials from the Export-Import Bank of Korea and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to discuss financing for Ukraine's plan to purchase 20 Korean-made high-speed electric trains.
Kuleba emphasized that the railway is the nervous system of Ukraine, ensuring mobility for millions of people, humanitarian cargo delivery, medical evacuations, and Army support. The procurement of the 20 trains is expected to be financed under a framework of up to $2.1 billion in preferential loans from South Korea's EDCF until 2029, as reported by Ukraine's Ministry of Development and local media.
Kuleba also highlighted the importance of Korean expertise in smart mobility and digital solutions for Ukraine's planned projects, such as a digital transport platform for the Kyiv region and a railway traffic control center equipped with modern signaling systems. He noted that in Ukraine, smart mobility is not about convenience but about survival.
Energy is another priority area for cooperation, with South Korea's strengths in battery production and renewable technologies being crucial. LG Chem Ltd. is considered a key partner, with projects involving energy storage systems for hospitals and critical facilities already under discussion, as well as a $375 million gas-turbine power plant project in the Lviv region.
Kuleba acknowledged the risks posed by global trade disruptions, including tariff measures introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump, which have impacted supply chains. He emphasized the importance of stable supply chains and Ukraine's reliance on partners in the U.S., Europe, and Korea for steady supplies of materials and technologies.
He expressed a deep affinity with Korea's story of transformation from a war-devastated country to a dynamic economy and envisioned South Korea-Ukraine ties extending beyond reconstruction into education, digital services, and innovation. He expressed a desire for Korean companies to operate in Ukrainian cities and for Ukrainian specialists to study and work in Korea, fostering a generation for whom cooperation between the two countries is a natural part of life.