G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant speaks his heart out for Korea, says Indians love Korea, its culture

Kant recently said that in India Koreans have beaten Japanese in every game - from golf to dancing to manufacturing and to even beef steaks.

Sanjeev K Ahuja On Jan 11, 2024

NEW DELHI: It seems India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh does not miss out on an opportunity when it comes his way to express his extraordinary affection for the Republic of Korea, its people, culture, products and everything. Recently, he poured his heart out in praise for this great Asian nation. Known for his candid speeches, the former CEO of NITI Aayog and an ardent fan of Korea did not hesitate to say that Indians loved Korean products more than Japanese products.

In a blunt statement Kant recently said that the Koreans have beaten Japanese in every game – from golf to dancing to manufacturing in India to even the beef steaks.

The occasion was India Korea Harmony Cup – a friendly golf event organized to commemorate completion of 50 years of India-Korea diplomatic relations by India Republic of Korea Friendship Society (IRKFS) and South Korean embassy in December at Delhi Golf Club where Amitabh Kant played golf in the 4-ball grouping along with South Korea Ambassador Chang Jae Bok. Former Ambassador to Korea Skand R Tayal, Chairman, IRKFS.

Kant counted on the significant role of Korean Sherpa for contributing to the success of India’s G20 Summit held last year in New Delhi. He called Ambassador Chang Jae Bok a great representative of Korea for the India-Korea friendship, a great golfer as well as a dancer while drawing a reference from the Hindi song Natu Natu on which tunes the Ambassador danced. He applauded Ambassador for playing a positive role in G20 Summit meeting in Kashmir where he also proved to be the best golfer.

However, Amitabh Kant went on to prove his affection for Korea with some examples, and also ranked Korea over its competitor Japan.

He said, “We always love Korea and Korean products. When I was grown up I was only used the Japanese brands like Sony, Sanyo, Honda, Toyota, and others. Then Koreans came in and they instead of supplying goods from Europe to India the way the Japanese companies were doing, they came to India and established manufacturing here, put up their distribution and retail network. They actually got Indian actors like Shahrukh Khan who become their brand ambassador (for Hyundai). They (Koreans) won over the hearts and minds of Indians. Therefore Indians either have a Samsung phone, or LG Refrigerator, Hyundai car, and now Kia car.”

Kant said, “The Koreans have beaten Japanese in every game – from golf to dancing in Natu Natu to manufacturing in India to even the beef steaks. We (Indians) love Korean products, Korean wines, and Korean golfers. I wish that 50 year of friendship between India and Korea will continue to grow and blossom in trade and investments, and relationship will only flourish also greater dancing on Bollywood movies and friendship will take a quantum jump and pole vault technically and culturally in the years to come.”

Kant called upon the Korean companies to start electric car and battery manufacturing in India. “Because that will be the next big disruption which should take place in India.”

He also praised Korean vegetarian food, said “The best vegetarian food I have eaten in Korea – a traditional Korean vegetarian food is the best. Korean beef steaks is better than the Kobe beef steaks.

Earlier too in October 2019, Amitabh Kant, the then CEO of NITI Aayog – the country’s apex think tank and economic policy advisory institution, had said Korean brands were the most popular products in India, and consumers here preferred Korean brands over Japanese.

He had said this while addressing India-Korea Business Partnership Forum 2019 organised jointly by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Korea International Trade Association (KITA). Hyung-cheol Joo, Chief, Presidential Committee, New South Policy, Republic of Korea, Shin Bong-kil, the then Ambassador, ROK, Jin Hyun Han, Executive Vice Chairman, KITA, Hee Chul Jung, the then Representative (Director), KITA in India, Kim Kum-pyoung, the then Director of Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI), Sanjay Chadha, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, and others were present on the occasion.

“Many of us use Samsung phones, LG refrigerators, and Hyundai cars. All of us have got used to the Korean brands. Earlier we would use Japanese brands, now we have switched over to Korean brands in India and they are the most popular products here,” Kant said this while addressing a gathering at the India-Korea Business Partnership Forum 2019 in New Delhi on October 24.