Seoul, South Korea – The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced today that South Korea and Costa Rica have reached a substantial agreement to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). DEPA is a comprehensive digital trade agreement aimed at establishing new rules for the digital economy.

With Costa Rica’s accession, DEPA now includes South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, Chile, and Costa Rica. The agreement is expected to facilitate digital trade and investment among these countries, providing new opportunities for businesses in various sectors, particularly in the digital content industry.

"Costa Rica's joining of DEPA demonstrates the growing importance of the agreement in shaping global digital trade rules and fostering cooperation," said Jeong In-gyo, Director-General of Trade Negotiations. "We expect this agreement to open up new avenues for digital trade cooperation between DEPA member countries and Costa Rica."

The South Korean government believes that DEPA will serve as a broad platform for digital cooperation in the future. By reducing cross-border barriers to digital business, the agreement is expected to create more opportunities for Korean companies, ranging from traditional manufacturing to the content industry, represented by the Korean Wave.

Other countries, including China, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, are also in the process of joining DEPA, indicating the growing global interest in the agreement. As more countries join, DEPA is poised to become a central pillar of the global digital economy.