Ties between Kenya and South Korea date back to February 1964,[1] as representatives from both countries engaged in diplomatic exchanges, which marked the formal establishment of the relations.

That made South Korea the fourth largest source of visitors from Asia to Kenya after India, China and Japan.

[1] Before the COVID-19 pandemic, around 15,000 Korean tourists were visiting Kenya annually, and these numbers have been picking up rapidly to pre-pandemic figures.

[3] In 2016, Former President Park Geun-hye of South Korea made a state visit to Kenya as part of her Africa tour.

In November 2022, President William Ruto made a bilateral state visit to South Korea.

The airline later apologised over the matter, stating that the mishap was a result of a bad translation from Korean to English.

[10] In late 2014, Korean Air flights were suspended due to the West African ebola crisis.

[1] Main exports from Kenya to Korea include: tobacco, coffee, scrap metal, gemstones, pyrethrum, spices, fish, wood products, handicrafts and beer.