INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIP
8.SOUTH EAST AND EAST ASIA
INDO - South Korea
Significance of
India South Korea signed Naval logistics sharing pact to extend logistical support to each other’s navies. It
will significantly enhance Indian reach in the Indo-Pacific and will place South Korea amongst close
partners of India like the US and France that have similar bilateral pacts.
Another agreement on defence educational exchanges was signed, which will take forward the special
strategic partnership between two countries.
A ‘forward looking roadmap’ was formulated to take India South Korea defence relations to next level. The
roadmap listed a number of proposed areas of co-operation in sectors of Land Systems, Aero Systems, Naval
Systems, R&D co-operation and collaboration in Testing, Certification and Quality Assurance.
A task force was proposed to setup, that will identify military systems that can be locally produced in
India and will be economically viable for Korean companies to participate in.
the K9 Vajra mobile artillery guns are being made by L&T in collaboration with Hanwha Land
Systems.
A delegation from Korean defence industries is to participate in DefExpo 2020 which will be held in
February, 2020, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
India- South Korea Relations: An overview
India and South Korea have the shared values of open society, democracy and liberal international economic order
and their mutual engagement is at a historically unprecedented level. India South Korea signed Strategic
Partnership in January 2010 which was upgraded to the level of ‘special strategic partnership’ in 2015
Politically India played an important and positive role in Korean affairs after Korea's independence in 1945.
Bilateral consular relations were established in 1962 which was upgraded to Ambassador-level in 1973.
Guiding principles: The South Korean President who visited India, for the first time in 2018 has coined a
new acronym ‘3P Plus’ for boosting bilateral ties between India and South Korea, through cooperation for
people, prosperity and peace.
An official policy instrument: South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s “New Southern Policy” (NSP)
attached primacy to strengthening the country’s economic and strategic relations with India.
Significant strides have been made in several areas of science and technology
The Indo-Korea Science and Technology Centre, established in Bengaluru in 2010 as a collaboration
between the Indian Institute of Science and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, is a shining
example in this regard.
Last year, South Korea inaugurated Samsung’s mobile manufacturing plant, touted as the biggest in the
world, in Noida.
The emerging balance of power in the region has also started influencing the trajectory of defence ties:
Co-production of the K9 Thunder howitzer is a prime example of the ongoing defence collaboration.
With technology transfer from South Korea, India’s Larsen and Toubro plans to achieve over 50%
, localisation by manufacturing the key components of these weapon systems domestically as part of
‘Make in India’.
South Korea would be the second country after China with whom India would undertake a joint project
in Afghanistan
Security of Indo-Pacific:Seoul has signalled to New Delhi that it would like to collaborate in maintaining
peace and stability in the region. There is regular security dialogue between India’s National Security
Adviser and the intelligence agencies of Korea.Also, by aligning with India and the ASEAN, South Korea is
making a subtle move to endorse the ‘Indo- Pacific’ geopolitical construct that helps Korea to mitigate its
China-related risks.
Economic relations: Since India opened up its economy in the early 1990s, India-South Korea trade ties
have grown from few hundred million dollars to $22 billion at the end of 2018.
Upgraded Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2018to facilitate ongoing
negotiations on upgrading the India-South Korea CEPA by identifying key areas for trade liberalisation
(including shrimp, molluscs and processed fish).
Indian exports to South Korea include mineral fuels, oil distillates (mainly naphtha), cereals and, iron
and steel. South Korea’s main exports to India include automobile parts and
telecommunication equipment, among others.
India and South Korea launched an initiative ‘Korea Plus’,to promote and facilitate Korean Investments
in India.
Historical and Cultural links:The close cultural ties between the two nations, go back more than
2,000 years. According to Korean legend, the Princess of Ayodhya, Suriratna, went to Korea in 48 AD and
married King Kim-Suro. A large number of Koreans trace their ancestry to this legendary princess. Both
countries have regularised education exchanges.
Strategic ties:India looks at South Korea as an indispensable partner in its Act East Policy (AEP). The two
countries are now working towards a new diplomatic mechanism in the 2+2 format. President Moon also
stressed that India was now his country’s “key partner” in the region and that India should be treated as a
major power.
Issues of concern:
Despite the robust ties, not everything is going as planned when it comes to economic links of the two
countries. The trade target of $50 billion by 2030 is most likely to be missed due to lack of adequate efforts.
requires immediate upgrading.
The large trade deficit in South Korea’s favour has led India to be wary of further opening up. In turn,
Korean companies cite problems in doing business in India, despite a special “Korea Plus” desk set up
by the Prime Minister’s Office in 2015.
More than eight years into its existence, the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ICCK), is
struggling to find its due space in promoting economic and business ties and spends most of its time
organising social and cultural events. A new, empowered commerce body is the urgent need of the hour.
Lagging people to people contact: The Indian Cultural Centre, established more than ten years ago, has
failed to reach out to common South Koreans, who still fail to differentiate between India and Indonesia.
8.SOUTH EAST AND EAST ASIA
INDO - South Korea
Significance of
India South Korea signed Naval logistics sharing pact to extend logistical support to each other’s navies. It
will significantly enhance Indian reach in the Indo-Pacific and will place South Korea amongst close
partners of India like the US and France that have similar bilateral pacts.
Another agreement on defence educational exchanges was signed, which will take forward the special
strategic partnership between two countries.
A ‘forward looking roadmap’ was formulated to take India South Korea defence relations to next level. The
roadmap listed a number of proposed areas of co-operation in sectors of Land Systems, Aero Systems, Naval
Systems, R&D co-operation and collaboration in Testing, Certification and Quality Assurance.
A task force was proposed to setup, that will identify military systems that can be locally produced in
India and will be economically viable for Korean companies to participate in.
the K9 Vajra mobile artillery guns are being made by L&T in collaboration with Hanwha Land
Systems.
A delegation from Korean defence industries is to participate in DefExpo 2020 which will be held in
February, 2020, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
India- South Korea Relations: An overview
India and South Korea have the shared values of open society, democracy and liberal international economic order
and their mutual engagement is at a historically unprecedented level. India South Korea signed Strategic
Partnership in January 2010 which was upgraded to the level of ‘special strategic partnership’ in 2015
Politically India played an important and positive role in Korean affairs after Korea's independence in 1945.
Bilateral consular relations were established in 1962 which was upgraded to Ambassador-level in 1973.
Guiding principles: The South Korean President who visited India, for the first time in 2018 has coined a
new acronym ‘3P Plus’ for boosting bilateral ties between India and South Korea, through cooperation for
people, prosperity and peace.
An official policy instrument: South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s “New Southern Policy” (NSP)
attached primacy to strengthening the country’s economic and strategic relations with India.
Significant strides have been made in several areas of science and technology
The Indo-Korea Science and Technology Centre, established in Bengaluru in 2010 as a collaboration
between the Indian Institute of Science and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, is a shining
example in this regard.
Last year, South Korea inaugurated Samsung’s mobile manufacturing plant, touted as the biggest in the
world, in Noida.
The emerging balance of power in the region has also started influencing the trajectory of defence ties:
Co-production of the K9 Thunder howitzer is a prime example of the ongoing defence collaboration.
With technology transfer from South Korea, India’s Larsen and Toubro plans to achieve over 50%
, localisation by manufacturing the key components of these weapon systems domestically as part of
‘Make in India’.
South Korea would be the second country after China with whom India would undertake a joint project
in Afghanistan
Security of Indo-Pacific:Seoul has signalled to New Delhi that it would like to collaborate in maintaining
peace and stability in the region. There is regular security dialogue between India’s National Security
Adviser and the intelligence agencies of Korea.Also, by aligning with India and the ASEAN, South Korea is
making a subtle move to endorse the ‘Indo- Pacific’ geopolitical construct that helps Korea to mitigate its
China-related risks.
Economic relations: Since India opened up its economy in the early 1990s, India-South Korea trade ties
have grown from few hundred million dollars to $22 billion at the end of 2018.
Upgraded Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2018to facilitate ongoing
negotiations on upgrading the India-South Korea CEPA by identifying key areas for trade liberalisation
(including shrimp, molluscs and processed fish).
Indian exports to South Korea include mineral fuels, oil distillates (mainly naphtha), cereals and, iron
and steel. South Korea’s main exports to India include automobile parts and
telecommunication equipment, among others.
India and South Korea launched an initiative ‘Korea Plus’,to promote and facilitate Korean Investments
in India.
Historical and Cultural links:The close cultural ties between the two nations, go back more than
2,000 years. According to Korean legend, the Princess of Ayodhya, Suriratna, went to Korea in 48 AD and
married King Kim-Suro. A large number of Koreans trace their ancestry to this legendary princess. Both
countries have regularised education exchanges.
Strategic ties:India looks at South Korea as an indispensable partner in its Act East Policy (AEP). The two
countries are now working towards a new diplomatic mechanism in the 2+2 format. President Moon also
stressed that India was now his country’s “key partner” in the region and that India should be treated as a
major power.
Issues of concern:
Despite the robust ties, not everything is going as planned when it comes to economic links of the two
countries. The trade target of $50 billion by 2030 is most likely to be missed due to lack of adequate efforts.
requires immediate upgrading.
The large trade deficit in South Korea’s favour has led India to be wary of further opening up. In turn,
Korean companies cite problems in doing business in India, despite a special “Korea Plus” desk set up
by the Prime Minister’s Office in 2015.
More than eight years into its existence, the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ICCK), is
struggling to find its due space in promoting economic and business ties and spends most of its time
organising social and cultural events. A new, empowered commerce body is the urgent need of the hour.
Lagging people to people contact: The Indian Cultural Centre, established more than ten years ago, has
failed to reach out to common South Koreans, who still fail to differentiate between India and Indonesia.
