[Chosun Ilbo 'People Section']
Interview with Ambassador of India Vishnu Prakash, by Jaejoon Lee

Inspired by gold donations in Korea during IMF Crisis,

I had wanted to be posted to Korea.

Mr. Prakash joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1981. He was appointed Consul General of India in Vladivostok. Mr. Prakash was assigned as Counselor in Tokyo, in Islamabad and as Consul General in Shanghai. He was appointed as Joint Secretary (XP) and Official Spokesperson of MEA in New Delhi. Ambassador Prakash moved to Seoul on January 2012.

To Ambassador Vishnu Prakash (57), it was an extraordinary sight that Koreans were giving up their gold in a nationwide public campaign to help the country out of its economic crisis in 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

Indians have a strong attachment to gold. India imports some 1000 tons of gold annually. "At that time, I asked my wife if she could give her gold for her husband if he was in trouble. And she told me that "I can give-up my husband but not my gold!", Ambassador said with a laugh. Since that time, he started to have special affinity towards Korea. And on January 2012, he volunteered to work in Korea. He had previously served in many countries including China and Japan, however it was the first time that he sought a posting in a certain country.

Interviewed in his office at the Embassy of India at Hannam Dong, he expressed a profound interest in Korean history. "It is very impressive that during Chosun dynasty, elite officials were recruited by Gwageo system, the highest-level state examination" he mentioned.

Ambassador Prakash likes to visit temples. "To get inside a Korean temple, one has to pass through the protected by divine guardians who are believed to ward off evil spirits. Inside the precincts of a shrine utter tranquility previals." said the Ambassador.

He mentioned that there are many magnificent temples in India and he picked Bulguksa as one of his favorite Korean Temples. He said that Bulguksa's 1500-year history fascinates him.

He also likes Korean temple cuisine. He enjoys visiting temple food restaurant at Insa-dong with his wife who is a vegetarian. There, in addition to savouring wonderful dishes like deodeok Muchim (Codonopsis lacneolata Salad), Jeon(Korean Pancake) and Tofu, he and his wife can also enjoy the traditional Korean Dance performance. "Sometimes, at my residence, my wife prepares Bibimbab with various vegetables. I am now addicted to taste of hot and spicy gochujang (red pepper paste) which goes well with Bibimbam", he added.

The Ambassador has also been impressed by Korean passion for education. "Korea enjoys near 100% secondary school literacy and 74% kids go on to university. This passion for education is one of keys to Korean success and its high growth rate as it rose from the ashes of the Korean War." he said. India too gives great importance to education. Our "IITs produce many outstanding engineers now. High-caliber manpower is an important factor for economic growth." he added.

When most Koreans think of India - curry, Hinduism and tourism - comes promptly to their minds. But Ambassador pointed out that India and Korea had already established strong economic relations. 3m Samsung mobile phones are being sold every month in India and Hyundai Motor Company annually produces 650,000 vehicles at Plant in Chennai, Southern State in India. Posco steel project in Odisha State is being considered. There are thousands Indian who work for Korean IT companies worldwide. "Indian market with a 1.2 billion population offers great opportunities to Korea." Ambassador of India to Korea,Vishnu Prakash added.
http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/17/2014041700090.html