Results of inaugural Korea-Central Asia Summit and future tasks

From left are Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajikistani President Emomali Rahmon, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President Lee, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japaro and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

The strategic importance of Central Asia has shot up since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stemming from a combination of three factors.

First, critical minerals in Central Asia are returning to the spotlight as geopolitical competition intersects with the fragmentation of global supply chains.

This lays the groundwork for the expansion of a Korean-style technology ecosystem and standards throughout Central Asia.

He is now an adviser to the National Security Office under Cheong Wa Dae and president of the Korea Eurasian Policy Institute.