The first contact between the peninsula of Korea and Mexico took place when Spanish born and Mexican born Jesuits from New Spain (modern-day Mexico) arrived to Korea to preach Christianity.
Since initial contacts, there would be almost no further direct contact between the two nations and any contact at all would have been done with Korean trading ships coming to Manila (capital of the Spanish crown in the Philippines) and their goods and merchandise traveling by Spanish galleons to present day Mexico.
In 1905, a Korean ship called the Ilford arrived in southern Mexico carrying approximately 1,033 Korean migrants.
These migrants eventually settled in the Mexican state of Yucatán.

During the Korean War, unlike several Latin-American nations, Mexico decided to remain neutral and not send troops to the Korean peninsula.
On 26 January 1962, Mexico and South Korea formally established diplomatic relations.
That same year, South Korea opened an embassy in Mexico City.
Initially, Mexico conducted relations with South Korea from its embassy in Tokyo, Japan.
In March 1968, South Korea dedicated a Friendship Pavilion to Mexico and placed it in Chapultepec Park.
In 1978, Mexico opened an embassy in Seoul.

In 1991, South Korean President Roh Tae-woo became the first Korean head of state to visit Mexico and Latin-America.
In 1996, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo reciprocated the visit to South Korea.
Since then, there have been several high level visits between the two nations.

In 2017, both nations celebrated 112 years since the first Korean migration to Mexico and 55 years of diplomatic relations.
The first contact between the peninsula of Korea and Mexico took place when Spanish born and Mexican born Jesuits from New Spain (modern-day Mexico) arrived to Korea to preach Christianity. Since initial contacts, there would be almost no further direct contact between the two nations and any contact at all would have been done with Korean trading ships coming to Manila (capital of the Spanish crown in the Philippines) and their goods and merchandise traveling by Spanish galleons to present day Mexico. In 1905, a Korean ship called the Ilford arrived in southern Mexico carrying approximately 1,033 Korean migrants. These migrants eventually settled in the Mexican state of Yucatán.
During the Korean War, unlike several Latin-American nations, Mexico decided to remain neutral and not send troops to the Korean peninsula. On 26 January 1962, Mexico and South Korea formally established diplomatic relations. That same year, South Korea opened an embassy in Mexico City. Initially, Mexico conducted relations with South Korea from its embassy in Tokyo, Japan. In March 1968, South Korea dedicated a Friendship Pavilion to Mexico and placed it in Chapultepec Park. In 1978, Mexico opened an embassy in Seoul.
In 1991, South Korean President Roh Tae-woo became the first Korean head of state to visit Mexico and Latin-America. In 1996, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo reciprocated the visit to South Korea. Since then, there have been several high level visits between the two nations.
In 2017, both nations celebrated 112 years since the first Korean migration to Mexico and 55 years of diplomatic relations.
Mexico–South Korea relations