Next flight: Russia and Korea discuss restoring direct flights
Russia and South Korea are discussing the resumption of direct flights. The airlines of both countries are in constant contact, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told Izvestia. In addition, improving conditions for Korean business in the Russian Federation is on the agenda of bilateral relations. The Kazakh Foreign Minister personally asked Sergey Lavrov about this on the sidelines of the recent session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The parties can discuss cooperation at the upcoming APEC forum, Rudenko noted. Such talks are a cautious step towards easing sanctions against Russia, experts say. However, for now, Seoul is waiting for certainty in the position of Washington, its key ally in the region. Whether to expect progress in Russian-Korean relations is in the Izvestia article.
Russia and South Korea may resume flights
Russia and South Korea are discussing the resumption of direct flights, and contacts are currently underway at the level of the two countries' airlines, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told Izvestia.
— As far as I know, our companies are in constant contact with each other, and much depends on the position of the authorities. We hope that results will be achieved," the diplomat said.
The South Korean authorities suspended direct flights to Russia in 2022 in connection with the conflict in Ukraine, joining the EU sanctions. Prior to that, flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Gimpo were operated by Aeroflot and Korean Air airlines. It was also possible to fly directly from Vladivostok to Seoul in just 2-3 hours. In 2019, round-trip tickets cost 38 thousand rubles — the tourist flow from the Russian Federation was actively growing. So, more than 350 thousand Russians visited South Korea that year. Izvestia sent a request to Aeroflot and Korean Air.
Back in June 2025, the Russian Ambassador to South Korea, Georgy Zinoviev, stated that the resumption of flights between Russia and the Republic of Korea was in the interests of the peoples of both countries. The current situation primarily affects ethnic Koreans who have moved to their historical homeland from the Far East: now it is quite difficult for them to meet with their relatives in Russia. The resumption of direct flights is also important for humanitarian and business exchanges.
— The issue of resuming direct flights is relevant. Everyone wants it: not only us, but also the South Koreans — I've heard from my friends and colleagues that they want to resume direct flights to both Moscow and Vladivostok," Alexander Vorontsov, head of the Korea and Mongolia Department at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Izvestia.
In addition, improving economic cooperation is on the agenda of the two countries. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun did not miss the opportunity to discuss this topic with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The minister asked to create favorable conditions for the work of South Korean companies in Russia. At the same time, the Russian Embassy in Seoul stressed to Izvestia that Moscow had not created any obstacles for South Korean business.
— The Embassy is not aware of any problems that have arisen with Korean enterprises operating in Russia. Those who have remained in the Russian market are working very successfully. Those who reluctantly left it as a result of the Republic of Korea joining the sanctions campaign suffered serious losses through no fault of our own," the diplomatic mission said.
All these issues can be discussed by the parties in the very near future, for example, at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, where both delegations arrived. Russia is represented by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk. He is scheduled to hold a number of bilateral meetings in Kuala Lumpur, including with the Prime Ministers of Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia. South Korea is personally represented at the summit by President Lee Jae-myung.
However, the most likely contacts between representatives of Moscow and Seoul at the APEC forum in South Korea, where the delegations will go immediately from Malaysia. Among its tasks is the development of transport connectivity, which, of course, includes air travel. However, it is impossible to say with certainty that the parties will be able to make any progress on this issue.
— The APEC Forum is not devoted to bilateral issues, but primarily to the issues of Asia-Pacific economic cooperation. There may be some contacts, but we believe that this issue should be resolved as South Korea's own policy towards us changes," Andrei Rudenko told Izvestia.
The Russian Embassy in Seoul informed Izvestia that the program of participation of the Russian delegation in the events of the APEC high and top level week is being worked out.
Will Seoul's policy towards Moscow change
Sanctions against Russia are the main obstacle to improving bilateral relations, although it is worth noting that Seoul has imposed significantly fewer of them than, for example, Tokyo. Moreover, there is almost no Russophobia there, and experts even call South Korea the friendliest of the countries unfriendly to the Russian Federation. In June 2025, after the scandalous resignation of Yoon Seok-young, Lee Jae-myung, who is considered a fairly loyal politician to the Russian Federation, came to power in South Korea. Earlier, he publicly lobbied for the normalization of relations with Moscow, and after the inauguration he spoke out against excessive hostility towards Russia and China.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung
Therefore, all these conversations and the search for common ground demonstrate, if not the willingness, then at least the desire of the South Korean government to begin a gradual and cautious exit from the sanctions regime.
— With this in mind, the ongoing talks about the possible restoration of direct flights are really interesting. This will not be perceived as a too obvious departure from the sanctions regime, but it will certainly be a step in this direction. And Cho Hyun's statements show that Lee Jae—myung's government understands the position of South Korean firms, which are mostly annoyed by the restrictions," emphasizes Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul.
The South Korean business perceives the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as a problem that has nothing to do with it, and therefore does not want to incur significant losses because of this, the expert emphasized. In particular, Hyundai Motor Group and Samsung Electronics did not want to leave the Russian market until recently. South Korean media reports that both companies, as well as LG Electronics, want to return and are already exploring opportunities in this direction.
So far, due to sanctions, primarily in the field of energy, trade between the two countries continues to fall. For example, in 2024, it decreased by a quarter compared to the previous year, to $11 billion, according to the South Korean customs service. Currently, representatives of small and medium-sized South Korean businesses are mainly working in Russia, which is not under such strong pressure from the federal authorities. These are manufacturers of clothing, cosmetics, and lubricants.
However, it is worth noting that Lee Jae-myung has somewhat muted his "pro-Russian" sentiments after winning the election, and this is dictated solely by geostrategic considerations. Seoul does not want to create unnecessary problems in relations with Washington, its key ally in the region, experts agree. South Korea and the United States, as well as Japan, are closely linked by defense cooperation, which is reflected in the constant presence of the American military and frequent joint exercises.
After his victory, Lee called the leaders of Japan and the United States within the first week, which only confirms his commitment to this trilateral alliance. In general, Seoul is still in solidarity with the Western bellicose policy of militarization. Defense spending is growing, and arms exports to European countries are not stopping, says Konstantin Asmolov, a leading researcher at the Center for Korean Studies at the ICSA RAS.
The republic's defense enterprises produce, in particular, rocket launchers, tanks, fighter jets and other military equipment to replenish the depleted reserves of Western allies, many of which already supply their own weapons directly to Ukraine. Although it is important to note that the legislation of the Republic of Korea prohibits the export of weapons to the war zone.
— We have not yet seen any serious attempts by the country to establish contacts with us, although there are many supporters of maintaining these contacts, primarily among scientists and diplomats. And I have a feeling that South Korea is now waiting for Trump to finally decide on a policy towards Russia," Konstantin Asmolov said.
The DPRK factor also hinders the rapid restoration of bilateral relations. Currently, relations between Moscow and Pyongyang are on the rise, especially in connection with the participation of the North Korean military in the liberation of the Kursk region, Alexander Vorontsov notes.
So far, the dialogue between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan is rather in limbo. The media reported that Seoul should send a special envoy to Russia, but this never happened and no details appeared. The new ambassador to the Russian Federation has not yet arrived either — Lee Seok-pae is due to return to this post.
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