Turkey explores cooperation with South Korea for Sinop nuclear plant

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that Turkey may partner with South Korea for the construction of a proposed nuclear power plant in Sinop, located on the Black Sea coast. In an interview with the South Korean news agency Yonhap ahead of his visit to Seoul, Erdogan confirmed that Ankara is currently evaluating the technical and financial parameters of the project in cooperation with the state-owned Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

The final decision regarding the project partner will depend on critical factors, including financing capabilities, energy production costs, and the overall economic benefits to Turkey. This potential collaboration is being discussed as part of a broader push to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

Erdogan arrived in Seoul on Monday, November 2, 2026, for a three-day official visit, marking his first trip to the country since 2018. During this visit, he is scheduled to hold talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Tuesday. Beyond the energy sector, the discussions are expected to cover expanded cooperation in the fields of defense and artificial intelligence.