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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited the Republic of Korea (ROK) at the invitation of H.E. Mr Moon Jae-in, the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK), on the 21st and 22nd of February 2019. The visit is part of a new wave of high-level interactions between India and the Republic of Korea, which began with President Moon’s visit to India for a bilateral summit in July 2018. The participation of her Excellency Madam Kim Jung-sook, the First Lady of Korea, during the Deepotsav celebration in Ayodhya in November 2018 was another significant affair.
About the Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Seongnam Air Base in Seoul early on Thursday for a two-day visit with Indian diaspora members waving the tricolour and snapping photographs with him in the hotel lobby. The visit aims to enhance India’s unique strategic partnership with the Republic of Korea and expand bilateral commercial and cultural ties.
The two leaders will use Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to review recent developments in bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest to further strengthen the special strategic partnership between the two countries based on shared values and interests. As part of our ‘Act East Policy,’ the visit will highlight the importance we place on developing multidimensional interactions with the Republic of Korea.
During his visit, the Prime Minister was awarded the 2018 Seoul Peace Prize by the South Korean government at a ceremony organised by the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation on February 22 to appreciate his contributions to international collaboration, global growth, and human development.
Important points to know about this visit
1. On President Moon Jae-in’s invitation, Prime Minister Modi flew to South Korea on Wednesday evening. After a state visit in May 2015 and a second summit meeting with President Moon, his second visit to the Republic of Korea has crucial significance.
2. The two countries hope to improve cooperation in various areas during the visit, including trade and investment. Before leaving for South Korea, PM Modi stated, “I am certain that this visit will assist us in developing this critical cooperation further.”
3. The visit, according to Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar, will deepen India’s unique strategic alliance with South Korea and add dynamism to the Look East Policy.
4. The PM had bilateral and economic meetings during his visit and unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi, and accepted the Seoul Peace Prize, as reported by the foreign ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.
Mahatma Gandhi’s bust was unveiled at Yonsei University in Seoul. PM Modi then attended an India-South Korea business summit and met with the Mayor of Gimhae and the members of the India-South Korea parliamentary group.
5. PM Modi later attended a special dinner hosted by President Moon and went to the ambassador’s reception, which was a community gathering.
6. PM Modi recognized South Korea as an important ally in India’s main programs such as “Make in India,” “Start-Up India,” and “Clean India” and said that the two countries share values and a vision for regional and global peace as fellow democracies.
7. He added in his departure speech that his visit showed the importance of mutual collaboration between the two counties. PM Modi added that the two countries’ collaboration in science and technology is positive, with cooperative research ranging from fundamental to advanced sciences.
8. President Moon’s decision to send First Lady Kim Jung-sook as his special ambassador to the Deepotsav event in Ayodhya last November impacted India, according to PM Modi. “Our people-to-people linkages and exchanges, as always, form the backbone of our friendly relations,” he said.
9. The agreement between New Delhi’s Act East Policy and South Korea’s New Southern Policy has highlighted the “growing depth and variety” of the two countries’ relationship.
10. The Prime Minister characterised South Korea in advance of his arrival. South Korea, the Prime Minister said, is a crucial partner for India’s main programs such as ‘Make in India,’ and the two countries share values and a vision for regional and global peace as fellow democracies.
Conclusion
From a strategic and economic aspect, India’s relationship with South Korea is vital. Over the last two decades, bilateral trade has steadily expanded. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj mentioned the presence of Korean enterprises in India during her visit to Seoul in December 2014 and the volume of bilateral trade, which is believed to be $17 billion, much below the $40 billion targets set by both nations. Modi’s inclusion of South Korea in his three-nation tour demonstrates the prime minister’s emphasis on the relationship, which could play a key role in Modi’s “Make in India” strategy. There is a lot of scope for more cooperation in areas like shipbuilding and rail and other infrastructure development. South Korea and India have a strong convergence on several subjects, and their relationship cannot be described as transactional.
