With Korea’s new admin, Korea and India to scale up their strategic partnership, cooperative relationship to a higher level: Amb Chang Jae-bok
Ambassador said this in his message to Seoul-based students and researchers association ISRK a day before President Yoon Suk-yeol was sworn in as President of South Korea.
SEOUL: While referring to South Korea’s new President Yoon Suk-yeol beginning his five-year term, the country’s Ambassador to India Chang Jae-bok said he hoped that Korea and India will scale up their strategic partnership and cooperative relationship to a higher level.
Yoon, 61 was sworn in as the new president of South Korea on Tuesday as he succeeded Moon Jae-in formally. As a conservative People Power Party candidate Yoon had won a tight election in March in less than a year after entering politics after a 26-year career as a prosecutor.
Ambassador Chang was virtually addressing the foundation day celebration ceremony of the Seoul-based Indian Students and Researchers in Korea (ISRK) on May 8 in a recorded video message.
“India is a major player in the indo-pacific region and also in the globe whose importance is widely growing. With Korea’s new administration, I hope Korea and India will scale up their strategic partnership and cooperative relationship to a higher level. To begin this new year of cooperation, our two countries are going to celebrate 50 years of the diplomatic journey together the next year,” said the Ambassador Chang Jae-bok.
Ambassador Chang also called upon all the members of the ISRK fraternity to join India and South Korea in celebrating their half-century-old friendship with their year around events.
“I would like to ask ISRK to actively take part in this golden jubilee celebrations with your year around events.”
Ms. Sripriya Ranganathan, Ambassador of India to the Republic of Korea, also addressed the ISRK event through a recorded video message. She was all praise for the ISRK for bringing a large number of students and scholars community under one platform and providing them the crucial support in academic and other areas in a short span of three years of its inception.
Suresh Chukkapalli, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Hyderabad, joined the event virtually, and offered all the possible help to ISRK to promote activities of guiding the Indian students and shaping their careers with regard to South Korea. Previously, the ISRK and Honorary Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hyderabad has signed MOU for further cooperation on this front.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Lailesh Kumar, President ISRK said, “Due to the huge support from Indian communities, ISRK has achieved so much in the last three years, ISRK humbly thanks all the different Indian community leaders in Korea for providing their kind support as well as sharing and publicizing this event in their communities.”
On this occasion, Prof. G.D.Yadav delivered insightful words and messages to all researchers, which was very helpful for everyone in conducting research in a very meaningful way.
Dr. Vibhu Jain, Chairman of the ISRK advisory board, who stood strongly with the student community during pandemic to solve many issues related to travel etc also addressed the gathering.
On this occasion, the ISRK launched its first magazine ‘Sankalp’ to give glimpses of three years of ISRK journey. Sankalp means promise, determination, and firm resolve.
While explaining about the magazine, Dr. Iqbal Khazi, VP, ISRK said, “A determined organization for the overall well-being of every Indian in South Korea. This edition of “Sankalp” is created by our team with the purpose of sharing our efforts with the community. An article about Great Indian Women in Science will amaze you with the list of top women scientists from India. Infographics of Top Indian Scientists can be useful to create awareness about these distinguished heroes in the younger generation. You can get information about various fellowships in Korea from the magazine. You can also get knowledge about Exploring Korea in regards to Travel, Food, and Student life in different regional languages from the Magazine.”
Other advisory board members Sanjeev K Ahuja, Mrs Shanthi Prince, Prof. Mukul Basu, and Prof Biswajit Sarkar also delivered encouraging messages and wishes to ISRK. Dr. Bhushan Kumar also delivered an encouraging lecture during the event.
Dr. Lailesh Kumar said, “We are also thankful to Dr Padmanaban Mohanan from Korea Tamil Sangam, Gurpreet Singh Saggu- Indians in Korea, Dr. Vinayak Parle- Moderator of Marathi Mandal, Dr. Abhilasha Nanda-Moderator of Assam Association in Korea, Prof Srijan Kumar -Moderator of Friends of Bihar & Jharkhand Association, Shekhar – President, Universal Cultural Center (UCC), Mrs Dhanushree Sujith- Moderator of Keralites in Korea, Dr. Kishor- Moderator Kanada Kota, and Mrs Namrata Mandloi for giving congratulatory message during event.”
The participants of the cultural event included Sharanya Mandloi, Dr. Atiur SK Rahaman, Pooja Singh, Vioma , and K-pop band from Indian and Shrestha Mondal for adding fun and charm to this evening.
The organisors thanked the sponsors, Chakara India restaurant, Expat Maart, SentBe remittance, Asian Community News (ACN) Network, for their kind support for organizing the Foundation day event.
Apoorva Kulkarni, Dr. Srigouri Huddar and Dr. Pooja Rawat, and Shikha Dubey, hosted the event.
“It’s a great feeling today that we are celebrating 3 years of ISRK and I feel very fortunate to be part of a very motivated and dedicated team that is working for the well-being of students and researchers in Korea and to bring a sense of home away home for to all,” said Dr. Lailesh Kumar.
He said, “I cannot thank everyone enough for their involvement, dedication, and their willingness to take up responsibilities throughout this journey . I congratulate and thank all executive team Dr. VASUDEVA, Apoorva, Shikha Dubey , Manas Biswal, Dr. Srigouri Huddar , Nutan Shukla, Prashant Sharma , Falak, Dr. Muhammad Saifuddin, Dr. Pooja Rawat , Gitika Thakur , Dr. Dilip Patil , Ashotush, Hemant, Kunal, Dr. Navneet, Kumar Vikrant, and Dr. Abhilasha Nanada. We are also thankful to M.Shriya and Jyoti Sihag ji for helping us during the Foundation day celebration.”
Mr. Kumar was especially thankful to Dr. Iqbal Khazi who had been the backbone of the ISRK for bringing together all students and researchers in Korea under a single platform.
