Laos and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations by launching the Lao Digital Park Project, a landmark initiative that highlights the deepening of bilateral ties and the shift toward digital cooperation.
Diplomatic relations between Laos and South Korea were formally established on 25 October , 1995, and have since expanded from traditional aid and cultural exchanges to broad collaboration in technology, investment, and sustainable development. Over the past three decades, the partnership has evolved into a multifaceted relationship focused on innovation and shared growth.
The Lao Digital Park, developed with support from the Korean government and Korean technology companies, is intended to serve as a digital industrial hub to attract technology investors, promote digital skills, and support Laos’ transition into the global digital economy.

The project aligns with Laos’ 9th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan and the government’s broader goal of digital transformation. It is expected to generate employment, improve technical capacity, and strengthen national competitiveness in emerging industries.

The initiative is part of the commitments made during the 25th ASEAN–ROK Summit held in Vientiane in October 2024, where President Thongloun Sisoulith and former President Yoon Suk Yeol agreed to enhance cooperation in technology, innovation, and human resource development.
Both sides emphasized digital partnership as a new pillar of bilateral cooperation, marking a transition from traditional development support to modern, technology-driven collaboration.
Since the establishment of the ROK Embassy in Vientiane in 1996 and the Lao Embassy in Seoul in 2001, Lao–Korean relations have progressed steadily. High-level visits, including those of former President Moon Jae-in to Laos and then Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith to Korea in 2019, reaffirmed mutual commitments to strengthen economic and political ties.
Korea has become one of Laos’ most important development and investment partners through Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) projects. Areas of cooperation include education, infrastructure, health, UXO clearance, and rural development programs based on the Saemaul Undong model. Korean enterprises also maintain a growing presence in hydropower, manufacturing, and construction sectors. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, over 200,000 Korean tourists visited Laos annually, making Korea one of the country’s largest sources of visitors.
At the 43rd ASEAN Summit in 2023, both governments reiterated their shared priorities in digital transformation, green growth, and climate resilience, reflecting an alignment of strategies for sustainable development.


 
                                    