Korea, Kyrgyzstan ministers push trade, critical minerals cooperation

South Korea's industry minister met Thursday with his Kyrgyzstan counterpart in Seoul to discuss expanding bilateral trade and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, as the two governments accelerate engagement ahead of a planned September summit.

The talks come as Korea races to secure supply chains for antimony and tungsten — critical minerals central to semiconductor, battery and defense manufacturing — sectors with deep roots in Orange County, where Korean-American engineers and entrepreneurs are concentrated in the tech and advanced-manufacturing corridor.

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan met with Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakyt Sydykov, where both sides agreed to diversify trade items and deepen collaboration in critical minerals, according to the Korea Times.

"Kyrgyzstan is an important cooperation partner for Korea in trade, critical minerals and official development assistance, and with the upcoming Korea-Central Asia summit scheduled to take place in Seoul in September, we wish to accelerate bilateral economic cooperation," Kim said.

Two-way trade between South Korea and Kyrgyzstan hit $3.5 billion in 2025 — the highest level since the countries established diplomatic relations in 1992 — the Korea Times reported.

Ministers agreed to focus cooperation on Kyrgyzstan's reserves of antimony and tungsten. Both metals are classified as strategic critical minerals essential to electronics and defense supply chains that Korean conglomerates — including those with major U.S. operations near Orange County — depend on heavily.

The September Korea-Central Asia summit in Seoul is expected to provide a broader stage for formalizing agreements spanning trade, development aid and critical mineral supply chains across the region.

The September Korea-Central Asia summit is expected to cement the region's role as a strategic supply chain partner for Korea, with critical minerals and trade diversification emerging as centerpiece issues for both sides.