Bhutan-Republic of Korea Relations

The Royal Government of Bhutan and the Republic of Korea established formal diplomatic relations on 24 September 1987. The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Dhaka is accredited to Thimphu and the Ambassador of Bhutan in Dhaka, Bangladesh is accredited to Seoul. Mr. Rinchen Kuentsyl is the current Ambassador-Designate of Bhutan to the Republic of Korea, and Mr. Lee Jang-keun is the current Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bhutan.

Bhutan receives assistance from the Republic of Korea through various Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) programs and Small Grant Assistance, especially in the areas of human resource development. Areas of cooperation include training in economic strategy, trade promotion, public administration, vocational training and film making and KOICA volunteers program.

The KOICA Bhutan World Friends Program Office in Thimphu was established on 13 December 2019. The first batch of four KOICA volunteers were dispatched in December 2019.

The KOICA Bhutan World Friends Program Office in Thimphu has been temporarily closed with effect from 31 October 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.