Action-packed first month of Korean Ambassador in India
NEW DELHI: The first month of the South Korean Ambassador to India Chang Jae-bok who assumed his charge on July 21 at the Korean embassy in New Delhi, remained full of action keeping him busy in back-to-back engagements.
The Ambassador hit the ground running on July 23 with his first outdoor engagement when he visited the Indo-Korean Friendship Park in New Delhi and laid a wreath at the life-size statue of Indian General KS Thimayya, the Indian Army hero of the Korean War (1950-53).
Ambassador also posted this photo as the cover photo of his Facebook page.
Following this was a very tight schedule for Ambassador Chang, the senior foreign ministry diplomat and public diplomacy expert with 32 years of experience.
His ensuing engagements included presenting the letter of credence to the President of India, visiting Raj Ghat to pay respects to Mahatma Gandhi, attending virtually India’s 75th Independence Day, visiting Korea Corner at JNU, attending a webinar on “India-ROK: Aspects of Public Diplomacy”, meeting Indian Consul Generals and Korean Consul Generals, meeting India-based Korea’s public institutions such as KOTRA, KITA, KSC, etc, and also visiting the newly set up Hyundai Motor India’s corporate office and another Korean company in Gurugram.
Before entering India on July 21, Ambassador Chang announced his arrival on his Facebook page along with the photograph of his wife, saying “I came to ICN Airport for the first time in a long time. I am flying to India to take up my new responsibilities as a Korean Ambassador to India. Arriving in New Delhi within 7 hours, I feel thrilled to be posted in Incredible India. I had a really restless night’s sleep thinking about it.”
July 27, the Ambassador 장재복 (Chang Jae-bok) along with Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog visited Hyundai Motor India’s new corporate office in Gurugram.
In his address, Ambassador emphasized that the new Hyundai Motors building did not merely represent the success of Hyundai in India but was an exemplary case of South Korea-India’s strong economic relations.
He also asked for the Indian government’s support towards the many Korean companies such as Hyundai as an extension of the enterprise-friendly environment that serves as the bedrock of the Make in India policy. He added that the Embassy would also extend its utmost support to this end.
On August 2, he watched the badminton match the Indian player PV Sindhu played at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 when she won the bronze medal. He congratulated Sindhu and her Korean coach Park Tae Sang, and posted, “watched it live. How exciting! Congratulations.”
On August 3, the Korean Ambassador held a meeting at the Embassy premises with the representatives of Korean public institutions and associations based in India such as Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA ), Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KOCHAM), Export-Import Bank of Korea, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), National Railroad Corporation, Korea Startup Center (KSC), and India Business Center and to get familiar with working of these institutions as well as meet their Indian heads.
Ambassador Chang stated that it is necessary for Korean public institutions and associations in India to work closely with the Embassy and build Team Korea. He added that the Embassy is prepared to cooperate with each of these institutions and associations and will work towards the development of the Korea-India Special Strategic Partnership.
Jung Hee-chul, Secretary-General of KOCHAM, and Chief Representative (Director), Korea International Trade Association (KITA), New Delhi who was present in the meeting said that it was an introductory meeting with the heads of various Korean institutions.
It was on August 4 when Ambassador Chang along with his wife visited Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI).
Closely following this was a virtual meeting on with the Consul General to Mumbai Kim Dong Young, Consul General to Chennai Kwon Young-seup and other Indian Honorary Consul Generals. These included Jagdip Singh Honorary Consul General for Chandigarh, Suresh Chukkapalli Honorary Consul General for Telangana, Prashant Joshi Honorary Consul for Goa, and Piruz Khambatta Honorary Consul for Gujarat.
Through the interaction, he learned of the Covid-19 situation in other Indian regions and the activities of Korean residents and companies in the country.
Ambassador Chang praised the efforts of all the Consul Generals and Consuls during the second Covid-19 wave and asked for their close cooperation for the safety of Korean residents in India, as well as for the enhancement of bilateral economic and cultural relations.
Honorary Consul for Goa Prashant Joshi, the Former Vice President of the Board Of Control For Cricket in India (BCCI) said, “We expect the new era of India-Korea friendship & diplomacy under the new leadership of a highly experienced diplomat. It was a very good and cordial interaction with the New Ambassador of the Republic of Korea His Excellency Jae Bok Chang. I look forward to working closely with him in further promoting India-Korea relations to a greater height.”
While sharing his first interaction with the new Korean Ambassador in India, Suresh Chukkapalli, Honorary Consul General of Telangana said that the Ambassador was very positive and looked very dynamic, and wanted to make a mark during his tenure in India, and also sought cooperation from the participants on all fronts.
“The Ambassador wanted to lay stress on education and culture and most importantly the people-to-people connect besides other areas such as trade and industry. He also discussed the Queen Hwang-ok Huh memorial coming up in Ayodhya during the meeting,” said Chukkapalli.
Again on August 9, Ambassador Chang Jae-bok had a detailed conversation with Suresh Chukkapalli, Honorary Consul General of Telangana, and Chun Sung-lae, CMD of POSCO India, consulting ways to strengthen India-RoK economic Partnership.
Two days after this meeting, the Ambassador on August 11 attended a webinar on “India-ROK: Aspects of Public Diplomacy”, co-hosted by ICCR in Republic of Korea and India Foundation on August 11, 2021. In his inaugural speech, Ambassador took up the development of India-ROK public diplomacy which boasts long historical and cultural ties. He also laid stress on the importance of continued communication and cooperation between peoples of two countries in the midst of rapidly changing international circumstances.
Then on August 12, the Ambassador visited Korea Corner at the JNU campus where he delivered new books contributed by Korea Foundation (KF).
He thanked Prof. Jagadesh Kumar, JNU VC, and professors of Center for Korean Studies (CKS) for JNU’s continuous efforts in advancing Korean Language and Korean Studies in India.
On August 15, Ambassador Chang participated in the Indo-Utsav event virtually organised in Korea by Indian Students and Researchers in Korea (ISRK) to commemorate the 75th Independence Day of India.
Incidentally, August 15 happens to be the National Liberation Day of the Republic of Korea. On this day, it commemorates Victory over Japan Day, when at the end of World War II, the U.S., and Soviet forces helped end 35 years of Japanese occupation and colonial rule of Korea that lasted from 1910–1945.
Later, Ambassador visited SD Biosensor, a Korean company, in Gurgaon, which produces COVID-19 rapid antigen diagnostic kits and saw the production facilities.
Ambassador Chang expressed his appreciation of the SD biosensor for presenting itself as a successful example of a Korean company in India and wished it continued growth and success.
The Ambassador also commended the SD Biosensor for extending a helping hand to the Indian government’s efforts to fight the devastating second wave of Covid-19 in the country by providing the rapid antigen diagnostic kits worth $1 million and oxygen concentrators worth $1.3 million and also for providing 50 oxygen generators to the Korean community in India.
On August 18, the Ambassador presented the letter of credence to President of India Ram Nath Kovind, and expressed his privilege in working in the world’s largest and most vibrant democracy and a country that is also an emerging global power.
He also pledged to ensure the strengthening of South Korea-India’s special strategic partnership during his term as ambassador.
The same day, the Ambassador Chang Jae-bok visited Raj Ghat to pay his respects to Mahatma Gandhi, India’s spiritual leader and the father of the nation.
He also visited the National Gandhi Museum where he met Mrs. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi and Chairperson of the National Gandhi Museum. They discussed the relevance of Gandhi’s teachings on non-violence and peace in today’s times.
