GKS India Alumni Association organizes star-studded annual GKS India Symposium 2023

NEW DELHI: Representing over 300 Global Korea Scholarships (GKS) scholars, academicians, scientists, entrepreneurs and business executives the GKS India Alumni Association organized its annual GKS India Symposium 2023 at India International Centre (IIC) New Delhi on December 2. The chief guest of the event was LIM Sang-woo, Minister, and Embassy of ROK. Also present were two former Ambassadors on this occasion.

The event took off with the welcome address by Dr. Satyanshu Srivastava, President, GKS Alumni Association followed by inaugural address by Prof. Ravikesh,  Registrar, JNU, and congratulatory address by LIM Sang-woo, Minister, Embassy of ROK, and Presidential address by Ms. Ryoo Hyea-sook, President NIIED (virtually). The formal vote of thanks was presented by Ms. Juhi Mendiratta, Secretary, GKS India Alumni Association

In his address Minister LIM Sang-woo praised GKS India Alumni Association for organizing the annual symposium on regular basis. He said that the GKS India Symposium 2023 was organized during the year where Korea and India are celebrating 50^th anniversary of establishments of their diplomatic relations. It is the year when India hosted G20 Summit. “During his state visit to attend G20 Summit the President of Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol really enjoyed Indian culture, especially the India food. He enjoyed chicken curry so much that he asked how it could be taken to Korea,” he added.

While elaborating on the concept behind the event, Dr. Satyanshu Srivastava, President, GKS Alumni Association said that this symposium served as a platform to delve into the rich tapestry of our shared history, explore the achievements that have strengthened our bonds, and contemplate the limitless potential that lies ahead.

“The GKS India Alumni Association boasts of 300+ members that constitute a rich pool of scholars, academicians, scientists, entrepreneurs and business executives performing key roles in not just India and Korea but many other countries around the globe. Every year it hosts the GKS India Symposium and an orientation program for the GKS recipients to help them make their move to Korea a bit easier,” he added.

Dr. Srivastava said that the objective of our association is to promote and foster mutually beneficial interaction between the alumni, experts from different domains and the NIIED. He said, “To exchange professional knowledge by means of conferences and symposiums etc. for greater India-Korea bilateral relations. To encourage alumni to render guidance to aspirants from India for the GKS program and also share their experiences and nostalgia about Korea. I feel proud and extremely overwhelmed to be part of this association which produces leaders of tomorrow.”

Then followed panel discussions starting with “50 Years of Diplomatic Ties and Friendship. Moderatedby Sanjeev K Ahuja, Editor-in-Chief & CEO, Asian Community News, this high-level session consisted of panelists Kwangwoo Kim, Counsellor, Embassy of ROK, Ambassador Sudhir Devere (Former Ambassador to ROK), and Ambassador C. Rajasekhar (Former DCM, Embassy of India, ROK).

Both the ambassadors shared their first-hand experience they had during their respective tenures in South Korea.

The Session 2 titled “India-Korea bilateral relations and Academic Exchanges” was moderated by Dr. Neerja Samajdar (Chairperson, CKS, JNU) while panelists included Prof. Vyjayanti Raghavan (Retd. Professor, JNU), Prof. Alok Kumar Roy (Professor Emeritus, BUFS, Korea), and Dr. Sandip Mishra (Associate Prof., SIS, JNU).

Then followed the final and Session 3 “India-Korea Economic Ties: Past Present and Future” and was moderated by Prof. Shahid Ahmed (Professor of Economics, JMI) and panelists included Prof. Jitendra Uttam (Associate Prof. SIS, JNU), Pankaj Agarwal (CEO, Class Sathi by TagHive) Online , and Dr. Choongjae Cho (Deputy President, KIEP, New Delhi)

Other attendees of the symposium included GKS India alumni, guests from the Embassy, Universities, Think Tanks, India-Korea Friendship Society, as well as students of universities interested in Korean studies and Korean language.