During her three-day visit which began on Thursday, Malhotra has been meeting with South Korean government officials and business leaders to discuss cooperation in advanced technologies, clean energy, and defense, according to the British Embassy in Seoul.
She arrived from Viet Nam as part of a broader regional trip that reflects Britain's commitment to strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
Her visit also comes amid growing ties between the two countries under their "Global Strategic Partnership" (GSP), as they seek to strengthen economic resilience and address regional and global security challenges.
"I am pleased to be making my first visit to [South] Korea, one of the U.K.'s closest partners in Asia," Malhotra said in a statement released by the embassy.
"In a more uncertain world shaped by conflict, economic disruption and climate change, trusted partnerships matter more than ever," she said. "That is why I am here to deepen our Global Strategic Partnership, which is driving secure, mutually beneficial growth, strengthening our economic resilience, and supporting our long-term security across both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic."
South Korea and the U.K. have developed a growing economic partnership, with bilateral trade in goods and services reaching 17 billion pounds (US$23 billion) last year.
The two countries are also preparing to sign an upgraded free trade agreement later this year. The revised pact is expected to modernize bilateral trade by maintaining tariff-free access for most goods, strengthening services trade, and adding provisions on digital trade and supply chains.
Energy security and resilient supply chains are among the key topics of Malhotra's visit. The embassy said both countries share a strong interest in protecting freedom of navigation and maritime security as globally integrated trading economies.
Malhotra is expected to discuss international security issues including Russia's war in Ukraine and Britain's continued support for Kyiv, while also raising concerns about growing military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.
She is also expected to reaffirm London's commitment to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, in line with U.N. Security Council resolutions.
As part of her other schedule in Seoul on Thursday, Malhotra met K-pop girl group NMIXX, along with Colin Crooks, the British ambassador to Seoul, as they were appointed promotional ambassadors for the embassy's campaign, "Girls Can Dream, Girls Can Achieve: Nothing Is Impossible for a Girl Who Dreams."
The campaign is designed to inspire girls to take the lead in shaping their own dreams and futures and to pursue their goals with confidence.
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