INDIA – REPUBLIC OF KOREA
- Political Relations
- Support for Korean Independence: India played a key role in Korean affairs post-1945, contributing to Korea’s independence efforts.
- Example: Indian diplomat KPS Menon chaired the UN commission for overseeing Korean elections in 1947.
- During the Korean War (1950-53), India supported a UN resolution for a ceasefire.
- Consular Relations: Established in 1962, upgraded to Ambassador-level in 1973.
- Special Strategic Partnership: Initiated in 2010 and elevated over time to signify close bilateral relations.
- New Asia Community Plus: In 2017, South Korea included India in its strategic partnership framework for enhanced cooperation.
- Economic Relations
- Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA): Implemented in 2010, aimed at enhancing trade in goods and services.
- Joint Committee: This committee, led by Indian and South Korean trade ministries, meets periodically to review and implement CEPA improvements.
- Bilateral Trade:
- India’s share in Korea’s global trade was around 1.72% in 2020.
- Exports: India exports minerals, oil products, cereals, iron, and steel to Korea.
- Imports: South Korea exports automobile parts, telecommunication equipment, petroleum products, and more to India.
- Korean Investments in India: South Korean FDI in India between 2010 and 2020 amounted to approximately $6.94 billion.
- Korea Plus: Launched in 2016 to attract Korean conglomerate investments in India, such as Samsung, Hyundai, and LG.
- Defence Relations
- MoUs and Pacts: India and South Korea have signed several MoUs in defense, logistics, research, and coast guard operations.
- 2019 Defense Agreements: Included defense educational exchanges and a Naval Logistics Sharing Pact, which strengthens India’s reach in the Indo-Pacific and aligns South Korea with other strategic partners like the US and France.
- Roadmap: In 2019, both countries agreed to a roadmap for deeper defense industry collaboration.
- Technological and Security Cooperation
- Technological Cooperation: Both countries collaborate on projects such as naval shipbuilding and the production of K-9 Vajra guns.
- Security Dialogue: Regular security discussions occur between India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) and South Korean intelligence agencies.
- Recent Meeting Decisions:
- Joint Production and Intelligence: Agreement to jointly produce military hardware, enhance intelligence sharing, and expand exports.
- Cyber Security: Commitment to increase cooperation in cyber and space domains.
- Defence Corridors: South Korea showed interest in India’s defense corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Connectivity
- The bilateral civil aviation agreement, originally from 1994, was updated in 2015, leading to direct flights by Korean Airlines between Seoul and Delhi.
- Cultural Relations
- Buddhism: Historical cultural ties through the spread of Buddhism to East Asia in the 4th century.
- Institutionalization of Cultural Ties: Indian Cultural Centres in Seoul and Busan promote cultural exchanges.
- People-to-People Relations: Visa-on-arrival was introduced for South Korean tourists in 2014.
- Yoga: Indian Cultural Centres in Seoul and Busan offer yoga classes.
- Sarang Festival: The annual Indian festival in South Korea showcases Indian culture and has been celebrated since 2016.
- Institutional Cooperation: Many institutional agreements have been signed, including MoUs between India’s FSI and South Korea’s Diplomatic Academy.
- Educational Initiatives: Courses in Korean language are offered at several Indian universities.
- New Areas of Cooperation
- Swachh Bharat and New Village Movement (NVM): India and South Korea share initiatives promoting community volunteerism.
- Entertainment and Cuisine: Bollywood and Korean pop culture have mutual fan bases; films and cuisine are popular across both countries.
- Shared Democratic Values: Both nations advocate democracy and cooperation.
- Cooperation in Afghanistan: South Korea has explored partnering with India on capacity-building projects in Afghanistan.
Significance of India-South Korea Relationship
The relationship between India and South Korea enhances India’s role in East Asia and promotes technological and cultural exchanges, contributing to regional stability and economic growth.
- For India
- Act East Policy: Aligns with India’s “Act East Policy,” while South Korea’s “New Southern Policy” strengthens ties with Southeast Asia, Australia, and India.
- Indispensable Partner: India considers South Korea a vital partner in its “Act-East” strategy, contributing to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific.
- Countering China: India and South Korea are working to balance rising Chinese influence by enhancing their economic and strategic relationships.
- Indo-Pacific Convergence: Both nations share an Indo-Pacific focus, with an emphasis on maritime cooperation.
- Indigenous Defense Capability: Collaboration can support India’s efforts to develop domestic defense capabilities.
- For South Korea
- Commercial Significance: South Korea aims to reduce its reliance on the U.S. and China by expanding trade with India and ASEAN countries.
- India’s Growth Potential: India’s large consumer market is appealing to South Korean companies
- India’s Demographic Advantage: India’s younger population can help address South Korea’s aging workforce.
- Countering Chinese Reliance: Partnering with India helps South Korea diversify its market and reduce dependence on China.
- No Sensitive Issues: Unlike with China, South Korea faces no significant political issues with India.
Issues in the Relationship
- Economic Issues
- Challenges for Korean Companies: South Korean companies encounter bureaucratic and market barriers in India.
- Trade Deficit: Trade imbalance favors South Korea, with imports from South Korea surpassing India’s exports.
- Restrictive Trade Policies: Indian tariffs on South Korean agricultural products create trade barriers.
- Need for Product Diversification: India’s reliance on petrochemicals requires a more diversified export portfolio to South Korea.
- Hyundai Pakistan Issue: Hyundai’s social media post related to Kashmir caused diplomatic concerns between India and South Korea.
- People-to-People Issues
- Cold War Era Perceptions: Stereotypical views of India as underdeveloped may affect South Korean perspectives.
- Indian Diaspora: The Indian community in South Korea is small compared to those in other regions.
- Cultural Acknowledgment: Indians may sometimes overlook distinct aspects of South Korean culture, leading to misunderstandings.
- Tourism: Low tourism exchange due to both nations being preoccupied with tensions in their respective regions.
- Ineffective Institutions: The Indian Cultural Centre has struggled to reach out effectively to South Koreans.
- Security Area: South Korea is not part of the QUAD, and its absence from the Indian Ocean Region affects its security relationship with India.
Way Forward
- Cooperation with Like-Minded Countries: Promote technical and financial support, democratic governance, and capacity-building in Asia.
- Cooperation on Global Issues: Address global challenges like climate change, freedom of navigation, internet governance, and outer space regulation.
- Economic Order: Focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), trade agreements, and connectivity norms.
- Expanding Defense Cooperation: Collaborate on land, aero, and naval systems, along with R&D, testing, certification, and quality assurance in the defense sector.
- Collaboration with NGOs and Think Tanks: Strengthen networks for people-to-people connections, research, and policy formulation.
The guiding principle for India-South Korea relations should follow the “3P Plus” model—People, Prosperity, and Peace—emphasizing cooperation across these areas.