The first round of the Korea-Turkey FTA negotiations was held in Ankara from April 26 to 30, 2010.
During the first round of negotiations, the two sides adopted Terms of Reference (TOR) which include 
the scope, structure and schedule of the negotiations. According to the TOR, both sides will pursue an 
ambitious and comprehensive FTA covering services, investment and rules (trade remedies, 
intellectual property rights, competition, etc) as well as trade in goods. They also agreed to hold the 
second round of negotiations in Seoul from July 19 to 23.
The negotiations were held in four Working Groups (Trade in Goods, Services and Investment, Rules, 
and Legal and Institutional Issues). Korea and Turkey discussed issues based on the consolidated 
texts prepared by the two sides before the first round of negotiations reflecting each side’s views on the 
issues. 
During the first round of negotiations, the two sides focused on identifying each side’s stance on 
individual issues. They also agreed to start negotiations on concessions on trade in goods and services 
and investment from the second round of negotiations.         
Mr. Taeho Lee, Director-General for FTA Policy from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, headed the 
Korean delegation composed of 38 officials from relevant ministries including the Ministry of Strategy 
and Finance, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and 
Fisheries. Mr. Husnu Dilemre, Director-General for EU affairs, Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade 
headed the Turkish delegation composed of approximately 80 delegates.
Turkey recorded an average of 6 percent annual GDP growth from 2004 to 2008 and has a great 
market potential with its 72 million populations. It is expected that Turkey will be a springboard to 
advance to regional markets as it is located in a strategic hub connecting Europe, Asia, the Middle East 
and Africa.