South Korea and Thailand held their first official negotiation for their Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in Bangkok from Tuesday to Wednesday. The agreement aims to enhance market access and cooperation between the two countries, with discussions covering various sectors, including goods, services, investment, digital, government procurement, intellectual property rights and cooperation.

The South Korean delegation, led by Roh Keon-ki, deputy minister for free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, sees the EPA as an opportunity to boost the competitiveness of Korean exporters and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, particularly in Thailand, which is the second-largest economy and largest manufacturing hub in the region. The two countries, already part of the ROK-ASEAN FTA and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), seek to further improve trade and economic cooperation through this customized agreement.