[Korea-Brunei] A Promising Partnership, Poised for Progress

Brunei Darussalam, located on the island of Borneo, is a nation of rich history, deep cultural heritage, and a forward-looking vision. Despite its small land size of 5,765 km² and a population of 450,000, Brunei Darussalam stands as a proud sovereign state under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the 29th Sultan of Brunei Darussalam and the world’s longest-reigning monarch.
On 23 February 2025, Brunei Darussalam celebrated its 41st National Day, marking over four decades of a stable political environment, resilient economy and a robust welfare system. At the core of Brunei Darussalam’s governance is the realization of the Wawasan Brunei 2035 which aims to enhance the overall wellbeing of its people across multifaceted sectors.
Brunei Darussalam’s independence in 1984 paved the way for strong global diplomatic presence, including the establishment of diplomatic ties with the Republic of Korea (ROK). Over the years, the relationship between Brunei Darussalam and the ROK has evolved into a partnership that encompasses meaningful collaboration in trade and investment, infrastructure, energy, defence and people-to-people exchanges.
These ties were further strengthened through the high-level exchanges of visits, including His Majesty with then-President Moon Jae-in in 2019. Most recently, His Majesty also met with President Yoon Suk-yeol during APEC in Peru in November 2024. Diplomatic exchanges, including through the Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister under the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Friends of Southeast Asia initiative, have enabled both countries to reaffirm its shared commitment to ensuring regional peace, prosperity and stability.

On defence, Brunei Darussalam and the ROK have maintained steady cooperation through the active exchanges of visits and trainings. The Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation paved the way for stronger collaboration between military officials, including in research and technology.
Economic cooperation is an important aspect of bilateral ties, primarily through the export of crude oil, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), methanol, and urea. Brunei Darussalam’s economy has also benefited from Korean investments, including with Anson International which aims to establish a marine maintenance and decommissioning yard at the Pulau Muara Besar. This marks Brunei Darussalam’s first commercial integrated yard, which will help Brunei Darussalam position itself well as a regional trade and logistics hub in the region.

SHOAS Bridge(Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Bridge), also known as Temburong Bridge, is a dual-carriageway bridge in Brunei that spans across Brunei Bay, connecting the Bruneian mainland with its semi-exclave of Temburong District. It is the longest bridge in Southeast Asia, at 30km long.(PHOTO: Brunei Tourism)

ROK expertise have also contributed to the development of Brunei Darussalam’s infrastructure, including the Sultan Haji Omar’Ali Saifuddien Bridge (SHOAS Bridge), which is the longest bridge in Southeast Asia spanning 30 kilometres. Aside from improving connectivity within Brunei Darussalam, the bridge has also enabled seamless travel for its people to the Temburong district while providing a beautiful scenery of the Brunei Bay.
Direct flights between the capitals thrice weekly and visa waiver arrangements have continued to foster and facilitate people-to-people exchanges. The increasing number of Bruneian students pursuing their studies in the ROK under sponsored scholarships such as Global Korea Scholarship and Discovery Year programme through Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) reflects these deepening ties, that offer a greater insight into Korean culture and tradition.
The appreciation for Korean Culture and the Hallyu Wave can also be seen in the steady increase of Bruneian travellers to the ROK every year, culminating in 7,285 travellers in 2024. Indeed, the impact of Korean dramas and K-Pop is mirrored in the various Korean restaurants and beauty stores across the country.
At the same time, Brunei Darussalam is also seeing a growing number of Korean travellers to Brunei Darussalam, where it welcomed the arrival of 8,323 South Koreans in 2024, nearly a two-fold increase from the previous year. In 2023, Brunei Darussalam experienced a 600% increase in Korean travelers from the previous year. The growing interest by Koreans may be attributed to Brunei Darussalam’s tropical climate, untouched rainforests, diverse wildlife, and rich Islamic heritage. In particular, Brunei Darussalam’s Temburong District, known as the Green Jewel of Brunei, boasts dense rainforests with diverse flora and fauna, and its year-round pristine white sandy beaches offer a breathtaking landscape to enjoy scenic sunsets and sunrises. Brunei Darussalam’s luxurious Empire Hotel also houses a golf resort with a championship golf course.
On its part, the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam in Seoul regularly promotes Bruneian culture and tourism through active participation in exhibitions and fairs in the ROK. Notably, the Embassy has participated in the Seoul Friendship Festival, organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, for three consecutive years, showcasing Brunei Darussalam’s rich heritage through food, such as Soto and Sambal Tahai, and traditional textiles like the Kain Tenunan Brunei and Brunei Batik.

The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is a mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, is credited with building the mosque, thus its name. One of the biggest and most striking mosques in the Far East, it was completed in 1958 at a cost of USD 5 million. The Mughal architecture of India had a significant effect on the design. The mosque is recognisable by its gold dome that dominates the city’s skyline. It is situated in the middle of a man-made lagoon with a ceremonial stone barge. The inside is decorated with rugs from Saudi Arabia and walls made of Italian marble.(PHOTO: Brunei Tourism)

A recent important undertaking was the Tree Planting Ceremony to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Brunei Darussalam and the ROK held at the Mullae Community Garden in the Yeongdeung-po District in Seoul. The Korean caramel tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) was planted by the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam in Seoul in collaboration with the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), the Korea Forest Service, and the Yeongdeungpo District in 2024 as a symbol of the enduring cooperation between both countries and firm commitment to shared prosperity in the future.
As a nation striving to achieve Vision 2035, Brunei Darussalam has much to learn from the ROK’s vast experience and expertise. The ROK, which had undergone a remarkable transformation from an impoverished nation to a highly developed, export-driven country, possesses a wealth of knowledge that can benefit Brunei Darussalam.
Brunei Darussalam is eager to collaborate with the ROK beyond traditional sectors with the expansion of ties in the areas of downstream oil and gas, tourism, maritime services, and ICT.
Amidst the rise of Artificial Intelligence technology, Brunei Darussalam can leverage on the ROK’s expertise as a global leader to enhance the country’s readiness in seizing new opportunities during the era of digital transformation. The ROK’s advanced agricultural technologies can enhance Brunei Darussalam’s domestic agricultural productivity. With its high internet penetration rate, Brunei Darussalam is also well-positioned to adopt e-commerce platforms, digital payment systems, and online marketing strategies offered by the ROK’s advanced digital economy, thus enabling the robust development of Bruneian MSMEs and enhancing their capacity to contribute to regional global value chains.
To this end, both countries can also cooperate closely within the regional frameworks of ASEAN and APEC to maximize their bilateral cooperation to its full potential. The ASEAN-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will chart a path forward that is meaningful, substantive and mutually beneficial. Under APEC, Brunei Darussalam will endeavour to work closely with the ROK as the APEC Chair in 2025 to continue to create an enabling environment towards greater prosperity for the people and the region.
Embracing the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, the relationship between Brunei Darussalam and the ROK remains steadfast and rooted in history, strengthened by cooperation, and guided by a shared vision for a brighter future. By continuing to build on its successes, Brunei Darussalam and the ROK can forge an even more dynamic and resilient future together.★