By Ian Werther in News — 14 Mar 2026

South Korea hosts Indonesia's Prabowo for state visit and summit to boost collaboration

South Korea’s presidential office announced that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will visit Seoul as a state guest from March 31 to April 2, 2024. The trip comes about five months after his last visit to Korea for the APEC summit held in Gyeongju in October of the previous year.

On April 1, the two leaders are slated to hold a summit, sign memoranda of understanding, and dine at a state luncheon. Officials said the visit is intended to elevate the two countries’ “special strategic partnership” and broaden practical cooperation across multiple sectors.

President Joko Widodo delivers a statement after closing the 2015 Asian–Africa Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center ob Thursday (23/4). In the conference, three points of agreement were agreed between Asian-African nations: 2015 Bandung Message, Declaration of Asian–African Partnership Strengthening and Declaration of Support for the State of Palestine. (ANTARA FOTO/Akbar Nugroho Gumay/15) — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Officials outlined plans to discuss expanding collaboration in trade and investment, defense and the defense industry, artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies, infrastructure, shipbuilding, nuclear power, energy transition, and culture and creative industries. The talks are expected to cover concrete steps to deepen cooperation in these areas.

The leaders will also address topics tied to regional diplomacy, including Korea-ASEAN relations, regional security dynamics in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula, and other global issues. Indonesia’s role as a regional hub will frame these conversations.

Indonesia is the world’s fourth-most populous country and the largest economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Jakarta hosts the ASEAN Secretariat and serves as a leading member of the bloc, which Indonesia aims to guide toward the “Golden Indonesia Vision” of becoming a developed economy by 2045.

King Frederik and Queen Mary on a state visit to Sweden on 6-7 May 2024. They arrive with the Royal Order of Vasa across the Salt Lake and disembark at the Logård Stairs at Stockholm Palace where the Swedish royal couple receive. The Order of Vasa also includes Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Korea regards Indonesia as a key partner in the region, with references to milestones such as Korean firms’ overseas investments in Indonesia, and notable moments in defense trade and potential joint aircraft development. The two countries have built a track record of escalating cooperation across technology, industry, and security domains.

For the United States, the visit carries relevance beyond bilateral ties. Deeper Korea-Indonesia cooperation in trade, advanced technologies, defense, and energy could influence regional supply chains, defense procurement, and innovation ecosystems in AI and clean energy. The development of closer ties in the Indo-Pacific aligns with U.S. interests in diversified, resilient partnerships that support regional stability and open markets.

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