Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to South Korea barely a week after the notorious Pulwama attack that triggered war-like situation between India and Pakistan, was manifestation of unprecedentedly evolving India-Korea friendship. Despite invasion of Pakistani fighter jets into Indian territory in J&K after Indian air strikes in Pakistan and when the two countries were face to face, Modi decided not to cancel the Korean visit and it happened at its scheduled time.
While indicating at the ever-lasting relationship in the making between India and Korea, Yoo Chang Ho, the Minister Counselor for Political Affairs, Embassy of Republic of Korea recently disclosed that there was an intense discussion in the global political circles that Pulwama attack was about to jeopardize Modi’s 2-day visit to Korea as the situation was very tense between India and Pakistan at that time.
“But Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Korea as per the schedule. There was an incident in Pulwama, and Korea lent its full support to PM Modi. Some people said PM cannot leave the country and go to Korea (in this tense situation), but he went there even though it was a short trip.
It shows why Korea is important to India and so are relations between the two countries,” he said while addressing a gathering of youths from across India at Korean Cultural Center in New Delhi recently. The event Korea-India Youth Dialogue was co-organised by KCCI and Confederation of Young Leaders (CYL).
“PM was in Korea even though he has elections in few months in India. It was yet to be announced that he is going to Korea, many were skeptical about this visit. But soon the people will find out why did he go to Korea and did not cancel the trip,” Yoo Chang Ho said adding that it was a reciprocated trip as Korean president President Moon Jae too came to India in July followed by the visit of Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook in November. It amply shows the closeness between the two countries.
Also read: Korean Prez, First Lady and now Foreign Minister : India-Korea mean business
While terming Korea and India as natural, complementary, strategic and passionate partners, the Korean Minister Counselor for Political Affairs said that Korea was not looking at Indian market but both the sides shared deeper history and relationship as well as ancestral connection.
To prove much deeper background between the two countries, Ho touched upon the legendary story about Korean queen Heo Hwang-ok who became the wife of King at the age of 16, after having arrived from India. Her Indian name was princess Suryaratna. Though, the story was little legendary and still needed factual and historical backing, it has great significance in Korea-India relationship, he said.
“After marriage, she became the mother of biggest family of Korea with 12 children. 10 of her children were named after Kim and two as Ho. Kim and Ho constitute about 11 percent of Korean population and all have Indian blood. In 2004 most prestigious Korean university Seoul National University conducted a medical test and found Indian DNA in their blood. It shows Koreans and Indians are brothers and sisters.
On this occasion, NC Wadhwa, the vice chancellor, Manav Rachna University and former chief secretary, Haryana Government also spoke on Indo-Korean ties.
“There are lot of similarities between India and Korea, both remained under foreign domination and also got freedom at almost similar time. We became two sovereign countries. Korea too faced similar situation but Korea in last 70 years have come a long way as far as development of the people, education, industries, research and innovation is concerned and country grew at very fast pace. India is an emerging economy and is looking for a big breakthrough,” Wadhwa added.
CYL chairman Himandrish Suwan, former foreign secretary and India’s former ambassador to South Korea Shashank, deputy director of research KOTRA Lim Sung Sik, marketing manager of Korean Tourism Organisation Sandeep Dutta, KCCI director Kim Kum Pyoung and CYL COO Vansh Saluja too addressed the audience.
