South Korean battery manufacturers operating in Hungary, including Samsung SDI and SK On, have signed a joint declaration committing to stronger environmental protection, workplace safety and respect for workers’ rights. The document was signed in Budapest on Monday together with South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The declaration sets out shared principles and proposed measures in three key areas: environmental protection, safety and human rights. According to South Korea’s trade and investment promotion agency KOTRA, the signatories aim to develop a battery industry ecosystem that grows together with Hungarian society.
Environmental protection and workers’ rights
Under the declaration, the companies have pledged to protect air, water and soil, and to communicate more transparently with local communities. They also committed to strengthening safety requirements at their facilities and throughout their supply chains.
On workers’ rights, the signatories promised to respect the rights and dignity of all employees, explicitly including foreign workers and people employed by partner companies. This is particularly relevant in an industry that employs workers from several countries and relies on extensive supplier and contractor networks.
The companies intend to maintain regular dialogue with the Hungarian government and local communities to review progress in implementing the commitments. South Korean Trade Minister Park Jong-sung said his government would work closely with Hungary to help ensure that the companies fulfil their pledges.
The declaration was signed by representatives of several South Korean companies operating in Hungary, including Samsung SDI, SK On, EcoPro BM, Dongwha Electrolyte, W-SCOPE and SungEel HiTech. The Korea Battery Industry Association, South Korea’s ambassador to Hungary and KOTRA’s Budapest office also took part in the event.
Make things easier with professional support in English. Explore Daily News Hungary’s Services in English and find the help you need.
South Korea remains a major investor in Hungary
Speaking to MTI, Park Jong-sung said South Korean companies intended to continue investing in Hungary and comply with environmental requirements, while also stressing the importance of a predictable and transparent regulatory environment.
He described investments in sectors such as electric vehicles, renewable energy and robotics as strategically important. South Korean companies are involved not only in battery production but also in developing the wider industrial ecosystem, he added.
Hungary’s Minister of Economy and Energy, István Kapitány, said South Korea was Hungary’s third-largest trading partner and third-largest investor. He reported that bilateral trade and industrial cooperation had grown by 10% in 2026.
Kapitány said his discussions with the South Korean delegation had focused on compliance with environmental regulations and Hungarian workplace safety and labour laws. He also announced plans to visit South Korea with a business delegation early next year to explore opportunities for Hungarian companies to become more involved in supply chains and for additional research and development activities to be brought to Hungary.
If you missed it: Battery plant leaking turned waterstream blue in Hungary, authorities immediately suspended production
