In the lead-up to the first Central Asia – Republic of Korea summit to be held in Seoul on September 16-17, 2026, information cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea is intensifying. One significant event in this regard was the visit to Turkmenistan of Song Do-hyun, a correspondent for the Republic of Korea’s leading news agency, Yonhap, who arrived to cover the development of the Turkmen-Korean partnership and prospects for its further strengthening.

During his visit to the Nebit-Gaz Newspaper office, the periodical’s editor-in-chief Ussa Ussayev gave an interview to the Yonhap News Agency, in which he discussed the extensive work being carried out in the country to implement the objectives set before Turkmenistan’s oil and gas sector by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag and the President of Turkmenistan Arkadagly Hero Serdar.

Following the interview, Song Do-hyun met with the editorial staff. During the conversation, they discussed key areas of long-standing cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea in the oil and gas industry and prospects for the further development of the bilateral cooperation.

It was noted that one of the most successful examples of that partnership was the development of one of the world’s largest gas fields, Galkynyş. Hyundai Engineering Co., Ltd. actively participated in the implementation of the first phase of the project, including the construction of a natural gas desulfurization unit.

South Korean companies also made a significant contribution to the modernization of the Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries. In collaboration with the LG International Corporation, modern technological facilities were commissioned, significantly increasing the efficiency of oil refining.

Another striking example of successful Turkmen-Korean cooperation is the construction of a gas chemical complex in the settlement of Giyanly, where polyethylene and polypropylene production is organized using advanced and environmentally friendly technologies.

The training of qualified personnel takes a special place in the bilateral cooperation. As part of a joint project between the Türkmengaz State Concern and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), a modern educational building was erected for the oil and gas secondary vocational school in the city of Mary. Classrooms and laboratories are equipped with modern technology, allowing training specialists in in-demand engineering and technical fields.

At the end of the meeting, the participants emphasized that cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea was consistently developing, encompassing industry, energy, education, innovation and environmental projects. It was noted that the forthcoming Central Asia – Republic of Korea Summit in Seoul would be an important platform for further expanding the bilateral partnership, strengthening the friendly relations and implementing new mutually beneficial initiatives.