Sansad TV Perspective: India - Korea Relations

In the series Sansad TV Perspective, we bring you an analysis of the discussion featured on the insightful programme ‘Perspective’ on Sansad TV, on various important topics affecting India and also the world. This analysis will help you immensely for the IAS exam, especially the mains exam, where a well-rounded understanding of topics is a prerequisite for writing answers that fetch good marks.

In this article, we feature the discussion on the topic: ‘India – Korea Relations’.

Anchor: Vishal Dahiya

Participants: 

• Virendra Gupta, Former Ambassador 
• Prof. Rajaram Panda, Senior Fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
• Harsh V Pant, Vice President, Studies and Foreign Policy, ORF
• Sandip Kumar Mishra, Associate Professor, Centre for East Asian Studies, JNU

Context: South Korean FM Park Jin’s two-day India visit starts in April 2023.

Details: 

• India and South Korea are important partners in the present world driven by uncertainty and volatility. Both countries are democratic and respect the international rule-based order. 
• This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and India. Bilateral consular relations were established in 1962. Our ties were upgraded to ambassador level in 1973. 
• India-South Korean relations embraced a wide array of factors like economic, political, cultural and people-to-people ties and appreciated the interest of Korean citizens in Buddhism. 

Area of convergence between the two countries: 

• Freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region is imperative for countries across the region. The close ties between the two countries will pave the way in this direction. 
• India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it will require huge investment and infusion of technologies. South Korea is known as a country with many advanced technologies. It will help both countries in deepening ties. 
  • The India – Korea economic relationship is reaching nearly 23.7 billion dollars in 2021.
  • Korea is also helping us in our ambitious programme of Make In India.
• India is making huge strides in the field of chips and electronics business. Samsung, a South Korean company has one of the biggest mobile phone manufacturing units in India.
• India’s automotive industry will be registering substantial growth in the coming times. It will provide opportunities to many automobile manufacturers across the world. 
  • External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar iterated that automobile giant Hyundai is a symbol of India-South Korea relations.
• Trade between India and Korea is flourishing and bringing countries closer to each other. 
  • India has been playing an increasingly pivotal role in the international arena and is set to further impact the world as the President of the G20 this year (2023).
• India is taking hard steps to bring reforms in international institutions like UNSC and other bodies. India wants these international institutions to reflect the order of the present world.  So, South Korea’s support is essential for India to bring reform to these institutions. 
• India and Korea are also undertaking cooperation in the defence sector and now both countries are ‘strategic partners’. 
  • The emergence of China in the region and its expansionary policy is not only creating apprehension for India but also for many other neighbouring countries including South Korea. Close cooperation especially in defence would help both countries in protecting their interests. 
• Climate change is another area of convergence between the two countries in the present context. India, one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, could be greatly helped through the technology of South Korea. 

Close cooperation between the two counties is a ray of hope for peace, and robust growth in the region. 

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