Israel–South Korea relations

==Early history==

==Early history==

[[File:South Korea embassy, Herzliya.jpg|thumb|right|Embassy of South Korea in Herzelia]]

[[File:South Korea embassy, Herzliya.jpg|thumb|right|Embassy of South Korea in [[Herzliya]]]]

Korea and Israel established official diplomatic relations on April 10, 1962.<ref name="ROK_Israel" /><ref name="Israel_ROK">[http://www.mofat.go.kr/english/regions/meafrica/20070824/1_1357.jsp? RoK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313165337/http://www.mofat.go.kr/english/regions/meafrica/20070824/1_1357.jsp |date=2013-03-13 }} accessed May 4, 2010</ref> However, relations began immediately following the outbreak of the [[Korean War]] in 1950. [[David Ben-Gurion]], the Israeli Prime Minister at the time, supported sending Israeli troops to join UN forces in Korea. However, the then-ruling party [[Mapai]] was opposed to such measures as it favoured relations with [[North Korea]] over the South. As a compromise, instead of sending troops, the government sent $100,000 in medical and food supplies to the South Korean government.<ref name="korea">[http://israelcfr.com/documents/4-3/4-3-6-YoungSamMa.pdf Israel’s Role in the UN during the Korean War] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117021911/http://israelcfr.com/documents/4-3/4-3-6-YoungSamMa.pdf |date=2012-01-17 }}.</ref>

Korea and Israel established official diplomatic relations on April 10, 1962.<ref name="ROK_Israel" /><ref name="Israel_ROK">[http://www.mofat.go.kr/english/regions/meafrica/20070824/1_1357.jsp? RoK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313165337/http://www.mofat.go.kr/english/regions/meafrica/20070824/1_1357.jsp |date=2013-03-13 }} accessed May 4, 2010</ref> However, relations began immediately following the outbreak of the [[Korean War]] in 1950. [[David Ben-Gurion]], the Israeli Prime Minister at the time, supported sending Israeli troops to join UN forces in Korea. However, the then-ruling party [[Mapai]] was opposed to such measures as it favoured relations with [[North Korea]] over the South. As a compromise, instead of sending troops, the government sent $100,000 in medical and food supplies to the South Korean government.<ref name="korea">[http://israelcfr.com/documents/4-3/4-3-6-YoungSamMa.pdf Israel’s Role in the UN during the Korean War] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117021911/http://israelcfr.com/documents/4-3/4-3-6-YoungSamMa.pdf |date=2012-01-17 }}.</ref>