Opportunities and Challenges of the Korea–Indonesia CEPA in Bilateral Trade and Investment

Authors

  • Gonda Yumitro Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang
  • Shannaz Mutiara Deniar Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang
  • Sukma Oktaviani Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22219/jurnalsospol.v11i3.42055

Keywords:

Bilateral, CEPA, Indonesia, South Korea, Trade

Abstract

This article aims to assess the strategic benefits of CEPA for both countries while identifying potential obstacles in its execution. Despite its significance, limited academic attention has been devoted to evaluating the real impact of CEPA beyond formal diplomatic agreements. A qualitative approach was used, utilising secondary data from academic journals, the Scopus database, and relevant news sources. The analysis was conducted by mapping key themes and relationships in the literature using VOS Viewer and assessing the logical structure and citation quality through the Typeset platform. The findings reveal that CEPA offers significant opportunities for expanding export markets, increasing foreign direct investment, and promoting technology transfer and human resource development. For South Korea, the agreement provides broader access to industrial raw materials, while for Indonesia, it presents the potential to strengthen the agricultural, manufacturing, and digital sectors. However, challenges such as global economic uncertainty, disparities in local industrial competitiveness, geopolitical tensions, and legal certainty remain critical issues. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on international economic relations and offer valuable insights for formulating sustainable bilateral trade and investment policies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Administrator. (2024). Understanding Trade Deficit and Its Impact on the Economy Outlook (p. 1). Uniair Cargo.

Arum, PAS (2024). Strengthening the Legal Certainty of the Prosecutor's Authority as an Investigator in Corruption Crimes, Case Trial Number 28/Puu-Xxi/2023. As-Syar'i: Journal of Family Guidance & Counseling, 6(3), 1712–1719. https://doi.org/10.47467/as.v6i3.7251

Bila, NS, & Wijayati, H. (2022). The Impact of IK-CEPA (Indonesia-South Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) for Indonesia. Formosa Journal of Sustainable Research, 1(3), 287–298. https://doi.org/10.55927/fjsr.v1i3.908

Chang, F. K. (2022). Deficit Trap?: Trade Balances and China's Belt and Road Initiative. In The Foreign Policy Research Institute. https://www.fpri.org/article/2022/07/deficit-trap-trade-balances-and-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative/

Choi, H.H., Hwang, Y.W., Kim, J., Kang, HY, & Kim, D.H. (2024). Material flow and domestic demand analysis for nickel in South Korea. Journal of Cleaner Production, 449, 141711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.141711

Cholif, U.M., & Paksi, A.K. (2022). South Korea's Interests behind the Reactivation of IK-CEPA Negotiations with Indonesia. Insignia: Journal of International Relations, 9(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.20884/1.ins.2022.9.1.5089

Damuri, YR, Atje, R., & Soedjito, A. (2014). Study on the Impact of an EU-Indonesia CEPA. In Center For Strategic And International Studies.

Damuri, YR, Rafitrandi, D., Friawan, D., Hirawan, F., Aswicahyono, H., Titiheruw, IS, & Barany, LJ (2021). Reaping the Benefits of Transformative Agreements: A Study of Indonesia EU-CEPA. In First Edition. Centre for Strategic and International Studies. https://www.csis.or.id/publication/memetik-keuntungan-dari-perjanjian-transformatif-studi-mengenai-indonesia-eu-cepa/

Diep, N. N. (2023). Ex-Ante Evaluation of the Vietnam – UAE CEPA Impact on Vietnam's Exports of Garments to the UAE. VNU University of Economics and Business. https://doi.org/10.57110/vnujeb.v3i4.209

Director General of Customs and Excise. (2023). IK-CEPA Officially Implemented, Understand the Import Duty Provisions for Goods from Korea. In BeaCukai.go.id. https://www.beacukai.go.id/arsip/stt/marine-customs.html

EFTA. (2021). EFTA - Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Information.

Fadhilah, RD, & Jatmika, S. (2022). South Korea Strategy in Increasing Exports of Beauty Products to Indonesia in Covid-19 Pandemic. Devotion: Journal of Research and Community Service. https://doi.org/10.36418/dev.v3i7.154

Fan, Z., Peng, S., & Hu, W. (2023). How Does the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Affect the Restructuring of Global Value Chains? China & World Economy, 31(3), 140–172. https://doi.org/10.1111/cwe.12488

Goh, CL, Kang, HY, Morita, A., Zhang, C., Wu, Y., Prakoeswa, CRS, Sau, N.H., Kerob, D., Flament, F., & Wei, L. (2024). Awareness of sun exposure risks and photoprotection for preventing pigmentary disorders in Asian populations: Survey results from three Asian countries and expert panel recommendations. Photodermatology Photoimmunology and Photomedicine, 40(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/phpp.12932

Hazucha, B. (2016). Intellectual Property, Private Ordering and Legal Certainty. Springer Singapore, 33–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0114-7_3

Hsieh, P.L. (2023). New Investment Rulemaking in Asia: Between Regionalism and Domestication. World Trade Review, 22(1), 173–192. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474745622000362

Public Relations Of BPHN. (2023). Overlapping Regulations in the Tourism Sector in Indonesia Must Be Addressed Immediately. National Legal Development Agency. https://bphn.go.id/publikasi/berita/2020083001241369/tumpang-tindih-peraturan-perundang-undangan-di-sektor-kepariwisataan-di-indonesia-harus-segera-diatasi

Hunt, M. (2024, February 7). South Korea tops OECD Digital Government Index - Global Government Forum. Global Government Forum, 1. https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/south-korea-tops-oecd-digital-government-index/

Jang, T.-S., & Oh, S. (2023). Transition to Sustainable Growth in South Korea: Investment and Trade under Uncertainty. Asian Millennials, 14(3), 360–378. https://doi.org/10.1177/09763996211065139

Kanojia, A., Linda, N., & Verma, N. M. P. (2024). The Impact of the UAE-India CEPA Deal on Trade and Investment Flows: A Comparative and Econometric Analysis. Saudi Journal of Economics and Finance, 8(05), 139–148. https://doi.org/10.36348/sjef.2024.v08i05.002

Katriana, & Mutiasari, T. (2023, February 8). IEU CEPA likely to have multidimensional impact: observers - Indonesia for Global Justice. Antaranews.Com, 1. https://en.antaranews.com/news/272157/ieu-cepa-likely-to-have-multidimensional-impact-observers

Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia. (2024). IK—CEPA Opens Big Opportunity for Creative Service Exports to South Korea - Ministry of Trade: Take Maximum Advantage of This Opportunity (p. 1). https://www.kemendag.go.id/berita/siaran-pers/ik-cepa-buka-peluang-besar-ekspor-jasa-kreatif-ke-korea-selatan-kemendag-manfaatkan-peluang-ini-secara-tidak maksimal

Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia. (2020). Signing of the Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (p. 1). https://www.kemendag.go.id/berita/foto/penandatanganan-indonesia-korea-comprehensive-economic-partnership-agreement

Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs. (2023). Entering the Fifth Decade, Bilateral Relations between Indonesia and South Korea Continue to be Improved, Especially in the Fields of Industry, Trade, and Energy Transition (p. 1). Public Relations of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. https://www.ekon.go.id/publikasi/detail/5788/memasuki-dekade-kelima-hubungan-bilateral-indonesia-korea-selatan-terus-ditingkatkan-khususnya-di-bidang-industri

Ministry of Investment. (2018). Ministry of Investment and Downstream - BKPM (p. 1). https://www.bkpm.go.id/index.php/id/tentang-bkpm/eselon/imam-soejoedi-2

KOMDIGI RI. (2024). Digital Transformation with the Ministry of Komdigi - Ministry of Communication and Digital (p. 1). https://www.komdigi.go.id/transformasi-digital

Limenta, M. (2022). Toward an ASEAN-EU FTA: Examining the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter in the Prospective Indonesia-EU CEPA. Legal Issues of Economic Integration, 49(Issue 2), 191–216. https://doi.org/10.54648/LEIE2022009

Manurung, H. (2018). Improving Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Between Indonesia-European Union (Eu) Through Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEPA). Journal of Asia Pacific Studies. https://doi.org/10.33541/japs.v2i1.667

Maulidita, S. Z., & Darmanto, D. (2024). Indonesia's Opportunities and Challenges in IK-CEPA: Bilateral Free Trade Agreement with South Korea. Insignia: Journal of International Relations, 11(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.20884/1.ins.2024.11.1.9926

Mulyanti, VS, Kurniati, N., & Artaji. (2025). Legal Analysis of Legal Certainty of the Execution of Supreme Court Decision No. 109/Pk/Pdt/2022 in the Dago Elos Case Reviewed Based on Law No. 5 of 1960 concerning Basic Agrarian Principles. Journal of Law, Public Administration and State, 2(1), 72–78. https://doi.org/10.62383/hukum.v2i1.78

Murtasidin, B. (2021). Indonesia's Political Economic Interests in the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Australia. JDP (JOURNAL OF GOVERNMENT DYNAMICS), 4(1), 52–63. https://doi.org/10.36341/jdp.v4i1.1726

Mustafa Zen, EH, Cahyaningratri, C., & Wicaksono, BS (2024). CEPA Indonesia - South Korea and Its Impact on The Development of Indonesia's Electric Vehicle Industry and International Trade. Diponegoro Journal of Management; Volume 13, Number 1, Year 2024, 13(1). https://ejournal3.undip.ac.id/index.php/djom/article/view/44061

Nasution, MSP (2019). Overlapping Authority of Central and Regional Governments in Investment Activities in North Sumatra (Study on the investment and …. http://repositori.usu.ac.id/handle/123456789/13739

Pratama, A., & Yuliana, G. (2024). The Ratification of Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement: Investment Challenges and Opportunities. Audito Comparative Law Journal. https://doi.org/10.22219/aclj.v5i1.29644

Purwanto, A. (2024). Potential and Opportunities for the Implementation of Ik-Cepa to Expand Market Access for Indonesian Goods and Services Trade in the South Korean Market. Jurnal Syntax Admiration, 5(6), 2330–2338. https://doi.org/10.46799/jsa.v5i6.1220

Putra, YD, Akbar, D., & Widyarsa, MR (2022). Cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea in the Defense Sector in the Context of Submarine Transfer of Technology. Student Online Journal, 3(1), 941–947.

Rahim, A., & Sudirman, A. (2023). South Korea's New Southern Policy: Viewing Indonesia As a Strategic Partner Through IK-CEPA. Indonesian Governance Journal Kajian Politik-Pemerintahan, 6(1–15). https://doi.org/10.24905/igj.v6i1.92

Sari, HP, & Ika, A. (2024, July 4). Throughout 2019-2024, South Korean Investment in RI Reaches IDR 227.3 Trillion. Kompas.Com, 1. https://money.kompas.com/read/2024/07/04/053000926/sepanjang-2019-2024-investasi-korea-selatan-ke-ri-mencapai-rp-227-3-triliun?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Shaommy, M., & Paksi, AK (2024). The Influence of The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) on Australian Green Economy Investments Expansion in Indonesia. SHS Web of Conferences, 204, 02001. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202420402001

Shilin, L. (2023). The impact of CEPA trade in services agreement on the upgrading of industrial structure in underdeveloped areas of Guangdong Province. Academic Journal of Business & Management, 5(6). https://doi.org/10.25236/ajbm.2023.050616

Sofjan, M. (2016). Assessing the economic impact of free trade agreements on Indonesia. Université de Bordeaux.

Stangarone, T. (2021). South Korean efforts to transition to a hydrogen economy. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 23(2), 509–516. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-020-01936-6

Taduri, J.N.A. (2021). The Legal Certainty and Protection of Foreign Investment Against Investment Practices in Indonesia. Lex Scientia Law Review, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.15294/lesrev.v5i1.46286

Torkington, S. (2023). What is a trade deficit and how does it affect the economy? | World Economic Forum. In World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/11/trade-deficit-global-economy/

Umaira, T. (2022). Implementation of the Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement on Tariff Reduction or Elimination. http://repository.umsu.ac.id/handle/123456789/19730

Verico, K., & Riefky, t. (2022). Bilateral Trade and Investment Relations Analysis: Indonesia and South Korea. International Journal of Business and Society, 23(2), 714–750. https://doi.org/10.33736/ijbs.4835.2022

Downloads

Published

2025-08-27

How to Cite

Yumitro, G., Mutiara Deniar, S., & Oktaviani, S. (2025). Opportunities and Challenges of the Korea–Indonesia CEPA in Bilateral Trade and Investment. Sospol, 11(3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.22219/jurnalsospol.v11i3.42055