日本-韓国-インド 友好ゴルフコンペ企画中。Japanese, South Koreans and Indians to play golf together in triangular golfing event 삼국골프 이벤트에서 함께 골프를 즐기는 일본인,한국인,인디언

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NEW DELHI: India would soon witness a unique-concept triangular golfing event involving amateur golfers playing golf from Japanese, South Korean, and Indian communities together.  

In its bid to bring these communities closer and incubate friendly relationships amongst them, the ACN Editorial Advisory Board – a unique platform consisting of prominent Japanese, Korean, and Indian personalities – has announced to organise a triangular golfing event sometime in November or December. It is expected that the Covid-19 situation would get normalized, and Corona social norms are relaxed by the government, allowing free movement and interaction of people at public places by the end of this year.    

A resolution to this effect was passed unanimously in the 1st physical meeting of the ACN Editorial Advisory Board members. Euy Don Park, President, Federation of Korean Associations in India, and the board member representing South Korea presided over the meeting, which was held at the Hotel Crowne Plaza, Gurugram (Gurgoan) on September 30.

“We plan to launch the very first triangular golf event with amateur golfers from Japanese, Korean and Indian communities in New Delhi or NCR towns sometime during this year when Covid-19 situation normalizes, and government restrictions on organizing such public events are lifted. Later the event could be organized at the golf courses located in other corners of the country, such as Hyderabad in South India,” said Euy Don Park, who himself is an ace golfer.  

 Park said such as event would send a message across the world and symbolize the peaceful coexistence of various communities from East Asia. “The golfing event during the daytime would be followed by cultural events the same evening to bring the communities from Japan, Korea, and India together,” he added.  

ACN Editorial Advisory Board is an extension of the Asian Community News (ACN) Network, a news agency focusing on Indo-Asian affairs with special emphasis on Japan, South Korea, and other East Asian countries, including ASEAN.

Sanjeev K Ahuja, Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Asian Community News (ACN) Network said that going by the number of Covid-19 positive cases being reported on daily basis in India and other parts of the world, it was very likely that the Covid-19 social norms could be relaxed by the end of November or December.

“If the situation permits, we would organize the event and make sure a large number of people from Japanese, Korean, and Indian communities participate and play together and send a message of peaceful coexistence of diverse communities and cultures,” Mr. Ahuja added.   

The Board members believed that the people from these communities working and staying either in India or elsewhere in the world should get to know about this event in advance. It would enable those interested to get enough time to show their interest in participation and apply for the same at editor@asiancommunitynews.com .

Suresh Chukkapalli, Honorary Consul General of Korea, Telangana, who joined the Board meeting online from the Honorary Consulate General in Hyderabad, offered to host the next golfing event in Hyderabad.

“Besides living in Delhi and NCR towns, the Japanese and Korean expats stay in significant numbers in South Indian cities, such as Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. Therefore, it is surely a right decision to rotate these golfing events through all four corners of India,” said Mr. Chukkapalli, who is also Chairman Emeritus, Phoenix Group.

Because of the 2nd wave of Covid-19 pandemic this year, a score of Japanese and South Korean expats had returned to their respective countries. However, as the pandemic situation is starting to get normalized in India as well as in Japan and South Korea, many a sizable number of expats are returning.

According to Kenji Sugino, Secretary-General, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCII), who joined the Board meeting as a special guest along with his counterpart Hee-chul Jung from Korean Chamber of commerce and Industry (KOCHAM), the number of Japanese people living in India before the 2nd wave hit India was 3000, and now it has increased to 8,000 Japanese. During the normal course, the total number of Japanese staying in India was 10-11 thousand.  

Similarly, about 50% of the Korean expats who had returned to Korea also have come back and resumed their work in India.

The Board members of the view that it was very important for the Japanese and Korean communities to get closer to each other before talking about business.

Hidehito Jay ARAKI, Management Consultant for Japanese companies in India, and the Board member said that Indians, Japanese, and Koreans all shared many things in common despite their different appearance. All are democratic countries, not communists.

 “There are a decent number of Japanese and Korean communities living in India, such as 10,000 Japanese and 13,000 Koreas. And many Japanese would like to interact with Koreans, not for just business but to get closer socially. Before discussing anything about business, let us know each other on common platforms such as golf and mingle,” said Mr. Araki.

“Most of the time, Japanese and Korean may be feeling shy, but if we give them the opportunity. Many Indo-japan and Indo-Korea tournaments are being organized, but I have never heard of Indo-japan-Korea, the three nations playing together. Such occasions make sure that participants communicate with English as a common language even of some of us don’t speak good English like the Indians,” Mr. Araki added while suggesting that the institutions such as JETRO, JICA, JNTO, and JCCII as well as those on Korea side should also be invited for such events for their support.   

Sung-chang Hong, Board member and Managing Director of NongHyup Bank (NH Bank) was of the view that the media platforms such as ACN should be utilized to propagate the very idea of holding such events so that more and more community members get to know about noble initiatives.

An Indo-Japanese relations expert and former Managing Director of Sharp India, Tomio Isogai, said Pune hosted many Japanese language learners, Korean and Japanese bakeries, and restaurants.

“When I was with Sharp India, I dealt with Korean vendors who supplied components and parts to Sharp India. At that time, I had the opportunity to interact with them and made many Korean friends. We, basically Japanese and Koreans, are brothers and sisters although the country-wise and politically there is something that was happening but people to people we are very close. When we get together on various occasions, we can understand each other more”.

While thanking the ACN has for making this great opportunity available to two nations Japan and Korea to get together on a common platform, Mr. Isogai said, “India is going to be a great country and power in coming decades and Japanese and Koreans want to contribute through that development of India. So that we can make a great group of people here. It is the trilateral relationship that we can boast of as it never happens in other parts of the world.”

Former president of Rotary International, Gurgaon, and Gurgoan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Mohit Malik suggested that the family members of the golfers should frequent golfing events as well to get connected to each other with stronger bonds. “Such events offer a fusion of culture with families enjoying food, music and cultural programs of each other countries.”

While endorsing the proposal, Prakash Yadav, the Co-Founder of AJU Group of Japanese Hotels said, “Since Japanese and Korean people are shy in nature and don’t open up so easily with the Indian people, we should offer them the opportunity and platform to come forth and interact more with Indian friends, and playing golf together is a good idea.”

Shiv Kothari, Founder of 100yen Japanese Chain of Stores, believed that the beginning of a relationship should be informal, as it does more business in sense and later it can be formalised. “More we more meet on golf and football field, and over Karaoke, more we get closer to each other,” he added.

The former chief commissioner, Income Tax department, and IRS officer Jagdish C Pegu, who himself is an ace golfers and winner of many golfing tournaments said, “We support social, cultural and economic activities involving the three countries, and use their strengths like technology, human resources and finances for mutual benefits. On the social and cultural front, we need to work out a strategy such as golfing events and strategies on bringing Japanese and Korean communities closer in India. Golf is one way of doing it.”

The members of the ACN Editorial Advisory Board include Euy Don Park, President, Korean Federation in India and VP, Korean Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KOCHAM); Suresh Chukkapalli, Honorary Consul General of Korea, Telangana; Hidehito Jay ARAKI, Management Consultant for Japanese companies in India; Tomio Isogai, Former MD, Sharp India and UAE; Prof. Do Young Kim, Honorary Director, Korean Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi; Nobuhiro Takahashi, Former Advisor, Japan Chamber of Commerce & Industry India (JCCII) ; Sung-chang Hong, Managing Director, NongHyup Bank (NH Bank), Rohit Kochhar, Founding Member & Managing Partner, Kochhar & Co. ; J C Pegu (IRS), Former Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, New Delhi; Prakash Yadav, India Japan Business Promotion Council, ASSOCHAM, and Co-founder, AJU Group of Japanese Hotels; Mohit Malik, Senior Taxation Expert and Promoter, GST Academy; Arshi Krishnachar, India Head, Seoul Semiconductor & Chairman, ISLE, Karnataka; Kunna Dash, Expert, Indo-Japan Affairs, and Shiv Kothari, National Editor, Govt. Affairs, ACN and Founder, Chain of Tokyo Stores.