1. Yoon Young-kwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Nguyen Sinh Hung, Minister of Finance of 
Vietnam signed the Extradition Treaty, Judicial Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters, Bilateral Investment 
Treaty in the presence of Prime Minister Goh Kun and the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Phan Van Khal on 
Monday afternoon of September 15 2003. 

- Time and place of signing: Monday 15 September 2003, 14:45- 15:00 in the Reception room of the Prime 
Minister’s Office


 
2. Considering that recently the people exchange between Korea and Vietnam exceeds 100 thousand 
persons per year, it became increasingly critical to conclude as early as possible the Extradition Treaty and 
the Judicial Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters which had been discussed between the two countries 
since 1996, and by signing the two treaties the two countries have laid a legal foundation to institutionalize 
cooperation in the field of criminal matters. With the signing of the Extradition Treaty and Judicial Assistance 
Treaty in Criminal Matters, Vietnam becomes the fourth country following the Philippines, Thailand and 
Indonesia among Southeast Asian countries, and the second after China among Socialist countries to 
conclude such agreements with Korea. 

- The Extradition Treaty is an agreement to provide for the requirements and procedures for extradition.

- The Judicial Assistance Treaty in criminal matters is an agreement to provide mutual cooperation in 
criminal matters including executing request for obtaining testimonial or physical evidence of crime and 
criminal proceedings thereafter.


 
3. In addition, the Bilateral Investment Treaty that was also signed, is a new agreement to replace the 
Bilateral Investment Treaty that was concluded in 1993 between the two countries. When the Treaty was 
concluded in 1993 Korean investors’ accumulated investment in Vietnam amounted to 92 million dollars and 
in 2002 it increased by seventeen times reaching 15.5 billion dollars making our country Vietnam’s fourth 
largest investor. The new Korea-Vietnam Bilateral Investment Treaty reflects the change of circumstances 
such as Korea’s increased investment in Vietnam and has been aimed at strengthening protection for 
investments between both countries. It is expected that the conclusion of this treaty would expand bilateral 
economic cooperation. 

- The Bilateral Investment Treaty accords to the investor from the other country, most favored nation as well 
as national treatment and when investment is appropriated, prompt, sufficient and valid compensation shall 
be provided. It is an agreement that guarantees remittance of free investment and benefits. 

- The revised Korea-Vietnam Bilateral Investment Treaty provides national treatment that had been denied in 
the 1993 Treaty and it provides a detailed dispute settlement procedures. 


 
4. With the signing of the three Treaties mentioned above, our country has concluded the Extradition Treaty 
with a total of 18 countries, Judicial Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters with 15 countries and Bilateral 
Investment Treaty with 73 countries.