Turkey explores cooperation with South Korea on Sinop nuclear power plant project

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that South Korea is being considered as a potential partner for the construction of a planned nuclear power plant in Sinop, located on the Black Sea coast. In an interview with the South Korean news agency Yonhap ahead of his three-day visit to Seoul, which began on November 2, 2026, Erdogan confirmed that Ankara is currently reviewing the technical and financial parameters of the project alongside the state-owned Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

Ankara’s final decision regarding the partnership will depend on critical factors such as financing capabilities, electricity production costs, and overall economic benefits for Turkey. This visit marks Erdogan's first trip to South Korea since 2018. The diplomatic agenda includes a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung scheduled for Tuesday, with discussions expected to cover bilateral cooperation in defense industries, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor technology.

The initiative follows a previously signed memorandum of understanding between the two nations regarding nuclear energy collaboration. The current engagement remains in the evaluation phase as both governments seek to strengthen their economic and political ties through these strategic industrial partnerships.