The State Visit of President of ROK Mr. Lee Myung bak to India in January 2010 was an important milestone that elevated the relations to “Strategic Partnership". President Lee was also the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 2010. His visit followed an equally successful State Visit to ROK by the then Rashtrapatiji in February 2006 that heralded a new vibrant phase in India-ROK relations. President APJ Kalam’s visit, inter alia, resulted in the launch of a Joint Task Force to conclude a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was signed during the visit of Minister for Commerce and Industry Shri Anand Sharma to ROK on August 7, 2009. CEPA has since come into force from 1st Jan, 2010. Rapidly expanding trade and investment flows lie at the core of the bilateral cooperation. Bilateral trade in 2010 witnessed an impressive surge of 45 percent over 2009, and reached a figure of $ 17 billion, and 2-way investments were estimated at over $ 4 billion.

The year 2010 also provided opportunities for political interaction at the highest level. PM Dr. Manmohan Singh had a bilateral meeting with President Lee in October in Hanoi on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit meeting. PM Singh again met with the Korean leader when he visited Seoul from November 10-12, 2010 for the G20 Summit.

Historical and cultural contacts between the two peoples date back to ancient times. According to “Samguk Yusa" or "The Heritage History of the Three Kingdoms" written in the 13th century, a Princess from Ayodhya came to Korea and married King Kim-Suro and became Queen Hur Hwangok in the year 48 AD [the First Lady Mrs. Kim Yoon-ok, former President Kim Dae-jung, former President Kim Young-sam and former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil, inter alia, trace this ancestry]. The enduring philosophy of the Buddha, which has influenced the lives and thoughts of the people of the two countries, also provides a strong link.

The rationale for a close relationship between India and ROK has been reinforced in modern times by political and economic imperatives. Colonial rule in India and Korea, and the anti-colonial movements in both countries, revived interest in each other. Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore composed a short but evocative poem in 1929 about Korea's glorious past and its promising bright future. He wrote:

"In the golden age of Asia
Korea was one of its lamp bearers,
And that lamp is waiting to be lighted once again
For the illumination of the East."

India played an important and positive role in Korean affairs after the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945. India was the Chairman of the 9-member UN Commission set up to hold elections in Korea in 1947. The successful general elections held for the first time in the South in 1948 led to the establishment of the Republic of Korea on 15th August 1948. During the Korean War (1950-53), both the warring sides accepted a resolution sponsored by India, and the cease-fire was declared on 27 July 1953. India contributed a medical unit, including 60 Para Field Ambulances, to the UN multinational force during the war. Also, India, in its capacity as the Chairman of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission [NNRC], contributed significantly to resolving the humanitarian issues arising out of the War, and this received all round appreciation from the international community.

India and ROK established consular relations in 1962. In 1973, relations were upgraded to Ambassador-level. In the post-cold war era, ROK's endeavours towards political liberalization and democratization have boosted India-ROK relations by creating a common ground with India's own economic liberalization and 'Look East Policy'. Regular exchange of high-Ievel visits and consistent Indian support for peaceful reunification of the two Koreas has helped further strengthen the bilateral relations.

India-ROK Joint Commission for bilateral cooperation was established in February 1996, which is chaired by the External Affairs Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade from the Korean side. So far, six meetings of the Joint Commission have been held, with the last one held in Seoul in June 2010.

An Indian Cultural Centre will soon be established in ROK and the Festival of India in Korea will be celebrated from June 2011 onwards in order to revitalize the cultural relations between the two countries.

Indian Community in ROK is estimated to be about 7000. Their composition includes businessmen, IT professionals, scientists, research fellows, students and workers. There are about 150 businessmen dealing mainly in textiles. Over 1000 IT professionals/engineers have recently come to ROK and are working in various companies including large conglomerates such as Samsung and LG. There are about 110 scientists/post-doctoral research scholars in ROK working in prestigious institutions.


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February 2011