Following ever-increasing bilateral trade and cultural ties between the two Asian giants – India and South Korea in recent time, the number of Korean expatriates coming into India is all set to grow at the rapid pace and reach the 10,000 mark in next 2-3 years.
“As more and more Korean companies are coming to India and setting up their businesses here, the number of Koreans too is likely to shoot up. As per our estimate the number is likely to grow at 10,000 in next 2-3 years from the present 6000,” said Su Mi Woo, the director of the Korea Association in India.
According to an estimate Japan tops the list of nations having their countrymen in India because of the highest number of companies followed by Korea and China.
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As India and Korea led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in respectively have recently decided to double bilateral trade by more than double by the year 2030, the influx of Korean companies into India is all set to shoot up in all likelihood.
According to Su Mi Woo, the number of Korean companies operating on Indian soil is about 300 with Samsung, Hyundai, LG and POSCO being some of the major players and the number is about to grow rapidly.
What draws the two nations closer is the fact that India’s Act East Policy that seeks to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia finds commonalities with President Moon’s New Southern Policy.
Closely following Moon’s visit to India in July, there followed a visit from his wife and Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook in early November when she participated in India’s grand festival of lights Diwali. Not only this, she also wore the blouse made from a saree that Indian First Lady Savita Kovind had gifted to her during her earlier visit in July this year.
Earlier, Korean President Moon too wore the “Modi jacket,” which he had sent him, and this picture had become social media sensation sparking huge public interest in India.
As India expects the number of Korean companies to grow, the highly talented workforce from Korea too comes along these companies and many of these executives and technocrats as well as businessmen come with their families.
“The maximum number of Koreans stay and work in Delhi and NCR towns like Gurgaon and Noida. They are about 4000 in this region alone. And the number of students studying in various schools should be around 500 maximum,” Woo said.
The Korean Association in India that was formed in the year 1991 helps the Koreans coming to India in many ways and helps them settle here without any problem.
Woo said, “We have launched many programs here to help and guide the Koreans coming to India. Besides making them aware about the art and culture of India as well as language Hindi, we also guide them on their basic needs such as schools/colleges for their children, market places, malls, Korean food joints and restaurants.”
Gurgaon has the maximum number of Koreans working and staying here in Delhi and NCR and therefore it is because of this that the Korean Association in India shifted its office from Delhi to Gurgaon four years back.
Leading the Korean Association in India as its director, Woo came to India 12 years back to study in Delhi University. Now she is about to complete Ph. D in India Asean Area Studies. She also has been teaching in JNU for the last one year.
However, Woo is of the opinion that the number of students coming to India for higher studies reduced in last few year years.
“Earlier lots of Korean students would come to India to study in DU and JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) but the number is reducing as studies are tough and the mode of teaching is English. The Koreans are not very comfortable with English language though many more are learning this language too,” she said.
