Exhibit F-1
[Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP Letterhead]
October 15, 2021
The Republic of Korea
Ministry of Economy and Finance
Sejong Government Complex
477 Galmae-ro
Sejong-si 30109
The Republic of Korea
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special United States counsel to the Republic of Korea (the “Republic”) in connection with the Republic’s offering pursuant to a registration statement under Schedule B (No. 333-257908) of €700,000,000 zero coupon green notes due 2026 (the “Euro-denominated Notes”) and US$500,000,000 1.750% notes due 2031 (the “U.S. dollar-denominated Notes” and, together with the Euro-denominated Notes, the “Notes”) issued under a fiscal agency agreement dated as of April 17, 1998, as amended by amendment no. 1 thereto dated as of June 3, 2003 and Amendment No. 2 thereto dated July 17, 2018 (the “Fiscal Agency Agreement”), between the Republic and The Bank of New York Mellon, as fiscal agent. Such registration statement, as amended when it became effective, is herein called the “Registration Statement;” the related prospectus dated July 28, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is herein called the “Base Prospectus;” the related prospectus supplement dated October 6, 2021, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, is herein called the “Prospectus Supplement;” and the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, together, are herein called the “Prospectus.”
In arriving at the opinion expressed below, we have reviewed the following documents:
| (a) | the Registration Statement; |
| (c) | specimens of the Notes; and |
| (d) | an executed copy of the Fiscal Agency Agreement. |
In addition, we have reviewed the originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of all such records of the Republic and such other documents, and we have made such investigations of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinion expressed below.
In rendering the opinion expressed below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. In addition, we have assumed and have not verified (i) the accuracy as to factual matters of each document we have reviewed and (ii) that the Notes conform to the specimens thereof that we have reviewed and have been duly authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Fiscal Agency Agreement.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that the Notes are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Republic, entitled to the benefit of the Fiscal Agency Agreement.