Korean National Defence Minister to inaugurate Indo-Korean Friendship Park tomorrow

NEW DELHI: After a wait of one year, India’s first Indo-Korean Friendship Park – one of the key symbols of strengthening India-South Korea friendly relations, is ready for formal inauguration tomorrow on Friday.

Suh Wook, Minister of National Defence, Republic of Korea (RoK) along with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh would inaugurate the park in New Delhi on March 26.

The Korean defence minister is on a 3-day visit to India from March 25 to 27 during which he will hold a bilateral meeting with Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to discuss India–RoK defence cooperation along with other regional and international issues of mutual interest.

After inaugurating the park in New Delhi, the Korean minister will visit Agra also, said a Defence ministry communiqué.

Situated in the Indian Army Cantonment Area in New Delhi hardly 6 km away from Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Indo-Korean Friendship Park owns strategic significance not only because it is a symbol of strong India-South Korea friendly relations, but it is also the reminiscence of India’s support to South Korea during the Korean War 1950-53.

The park is however open for the people in general as many visit the place which is situated in General Thimayya Park.

Its construction was completed in early 2020 and it was to be initially planned to be inaugurated in the month of April last year either by the senior functionary of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs or the Ministry of National Defence. But following the clampdown of the nationwide lockdown and suspension of international flights, the program was canceled indefinitely.

Indian Army, the Embassy of ROK in New Delhi, the Cantonment Board, and the Korean War Veterans Association have jointly developed the Indo-Korean Friendship Park, which also symbolizes a Korean War Memorial.

Related article: India’s First Indo-Korean Friendship Park ready in New Delhi