India-South Korea Ties

Syllabus: GS2/IR

In News

• The Indian Defence Minister’s visit to Seoul after the South Korean President’s visit to India highlights the growing strength and strategic importance of India–South Korea relations.

Background 

• India’s Role in Korean War: India played a key diplomatic and humanitarian role in Korea after 1945 and during the Korean War. During the war, India sent the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance (627 medical staff) treating about 220,000 patients.
  • India also sponsored a UN ceasefire resolution that led to the 1953 armistice. 
• Beginning for diplomatic relations: India and South Korea established consular relations in 1962 and formal diplomatic relations in 1973.
  • Their ties deepened over time, with both countries upgrading the relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2010 and further elevating it to a Special Strategic Partnership in 2015 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Seoul. 

Areas of Cooperation 

• Trade and Economic Relations:  The India–ROK Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), in force since 2010, has strengthened bilateral economic engagement.
  • Bilateral trade has grown from USD 14.2 billion at the time of its implementation to USD 26.89 billion in 2024–25, an increase of nearly 90%.
    • India’s key exports to the ROK include light oils and related preparations, aluminium (not alloyed), ferro-chromium, refined lead, mineral fuel distillates (primarily naphtha), cereals, and iron and steel products. 
    • Major imports from the ROK comprise automobile parts, telecommunication equipment, hot-rolled iron products, refined petroleum products, base lubricating oils, mechanical appliances, electrical machinery and parts, and iron and steel products .
  • ROK is India’s 13th largest FDI investor, with cumulative investments of USD 6.91 billion since 2000.
• Defence Relations: India–South Korea defence cooperation is guided by MoUs signed in 2005, 2010, and 2020 covering industry, logistics, R&D, and defence industrial roadmaps.
  • Recent collaboration includes a 2025 DRDO–Seoul National University agreement on developing high-power microwave systems and expanded participation in defence exhibitions like KADEX 2024.
  •  The K9 Vajra-T programme, developed under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, has become the flagship project of India-South Korea defence cooperation.
  • Submarine collaboration has emerged as a key focus area, driven by South Korea’s expertise in conventional submarines, lithium-ion battery systems, and air-independent propulsion technologies through companies such as Hanwha Ocean.
• Cultural ties:  India and South Korea share ancient cultural ties.
  • The Korean text Samguk Yusa mentions Princess Suriratna from Ayodhya, who came to Korea in 48 AD, married King Kim Suro of Gaya, and became Queen Heo Hwang-ok, with many Koreans tracing ancestry to her. Some scholars also link the spread of Buddhism to Korea with her family. 
  • Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “Lamp of the East” (1929) highlights Korea’s cultural spirit and remains popular in South Korea, even included in school education.
  • Cultural cooperation is supported by agreements like the Cultural Exchange Programme (2018) and audio-visual co-production pact (2015), along with active engagement through institutions such as the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Seoul.
• People to people exchange:  The Indian community in South Korea is about 18,000 strong, mainly consisting of students, researchers, and professionals.
  • A large number of students are enrolled in Korean universities, especially in STEM fields at postgraduate and doctoral levels. Indian diaspora groups are also active in supporting community welfare and promoting cultural engagement.

Latest Developments

• India and South Korea agreed to deepen trade, technology, and strategic cooperation during President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Delhi, marking a renewed push in ties after several years. 
• Both sides set a target of $50 billion in bilateral trade by the end of the decade and launched a vision for a Special Strategic Partnership, along with frameworks on shipbuilding, maritime logistics, energy security, and sustainability. 
• They also signed 15 MoUs and emphasized cooperation in emerging technologies like quantum computing and critical minerals, combining Korea’s technological expertise with India’s scale.

Importance of the Partnership

• Balance in Indo-Pacific: India–South Korea relations are important for maintaining a balanced Indo-Pacific region amid China’s growing influence.
  •  Their cooperation supports a stable, rules-based regional order and strengthens shared security and strategic interests in the region.
• Economic interdependence   :India and South Korea complement each other:
  • India provides market size, IT services, and skilled labour
  • South Korea offers advanced manufacturing, technology, and capital, creating mutual growth and industrial cooperation.
• Defence Diversification: India–South Korea defence ties are shifting to innovation-led cooperation involving startups, research institutions, and joint platforms.
  • India reduces reliance on traditional suppliers, South Korea expands exports and co-production opportunities.
  •  Military exchanges and exercises are also deepening trust, making the partnership a growing defence-industrial collaboration in Asia.

Challenges

• Trade Imbalance: India has a significant trade deficit with South Korea, and Indian exports face non-tariff barriers, especially in sectors like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and IT services.
• Slow CEPA Upgradation: Negotiations to upgrade and modernize CEPA have faced systemic delays, slowing down immediate tariff rationalization and investment protections
• Geopolitical Pressures : Geopolitical considerations, especially balancing ties with China and the US, can limit how deeply India and South Korea align strategically.

Conclusion and Way Forward 

• India–South Korea relations are evolving from a trade-focused partnership into a comprehensive strategic and technological alliance, driven by shared interests in the Indo-Pacific, advanced manufacturing, and defence cooperation. 
• India–South Korea ties should move beyond defence-industrial cooperation to a broader strategic partnership focused on Indo-Pacific stability. Rising regional threats and South Korea’s internal challenges make deeper coordination important. 
• The future relationship should emphasize shared security, better market access, investment, high-tech and defence cooperation, and stronger people-to-people ties, evolving into a “futuristic partnership” in Asia.

Source :TH