The link between South Korea and Saudi Arabia have been historically strong from the old era when Arab merchants came to the Korean Kingdom United Silla in 7th and 8th century.

[2][3][4][5][6] The Deoksu Jang clan survived and integrated within the Korean society, but its descendants could no longer speak Arabic language nor even practising Islam anymore.

[7] During the Joseon rule, Sejong the Great in his annals had mentioned Arabs reading Quran and Islamic teachings, though the King was never a Muslim throughout his life.

[8] During the Korean War, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Western alliance against communist expansion by the Soviet Union, sided with the infant South Korea from 1950 to 1953, though they didn't contribute soldiers.

The agreement saw the two establish a joint committee to form a working group for weapons systems research and development as well as production to continue cooperation in defence.