India-South Korea Relations

IASbaba

July 25, 2020

INTERNATIONAL / SECURITY

Topic: General Studies 2 and 3

India and its neighborhood- relations.

Security challenges and their management in border areas

Context: Despite numerous bilateral agreements between India and South Korea the relationship has not been able to move to next level.

Did You Know?

Korean Buddhist Monk Hyecho (704–787 CE) or Hong Jiao visited India from 723 to 729 AD and wrote travelogue ”Pilgrimage to the five kingdoms of India” which gives a vivid account of Indian culture, politics & society.
Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore has composed a short but evocative poem – ’Lamp of the East’ - in 1929 about Korea’s glorious past and its promising bright future.

A brief history of India-South Korea Relation

During the Korean War (1950- 53), India has played a major role in cease-fire agreement signed between both the warring sides and the ceasefire was declared on 27 July 1953.
The relationship did not move much till 1990s due to South Korea’s closeness to US and India either following non-aligned or under Russian influence
The economic relation between India and South Korea grew after economic reforms in India which led to signing of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2010
Relations between India and South Korea was raised to the level of Strategic Partnership in January 2010 and upgraded to Special strategic partnership in 2015
India has a major role to play in South Korea’s Southern Policy under which Korea is looking at expanding relations beyond its immediate region.
Similarly, South Korea is a major player in India’s Act East Policy under which aims to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific.

Challenges with Bilateral Relationship

1. Stagnation in Economic relationship

The economic partnership is struck at $22 billion annually.
Also, the defence partnership appears to have receded from great all-round promise to the mere sale and purchase of weapon systems.

2. Cultural Prejudices on both sides preventing people-to-people ties

Cold War Era perception: There may be a widespread perception among South Koreans of India as a third world country, rife with poverty and hunger. 
Indian Diaspora: Within South Korea, the integration of Indians in the local population is far from complete, with some instances of racial prejudice or discrimination toward Indians
Inadequate acknowledgment of Korean Culture: To a certain extent Indians are unable to distinguish between the cultural and social characteristics of South Koreans from that of Japanese/Chinese.
All these stands in the way of a relationship based on openness, curiosity and warmth.

3. Unfulfilled potential of Cultural Centres

Indian Culture Centre (ICC) was established in Seoul 10 years ago to promote people-to-people contacts.
However, ICC has to reach an exponentially wider audience and its focus has to expand beyond the urban, English-speaking elite of Seoul.
The same may be applicable to South Korean culture centres in India.

Way Forward

As the balance of power in the region continues to shift fast, India and South Korea may need each like never before, to protect their ways of life.
However, both countries will be able to help each other only if they can fill the cultural gaps.

Connecting the dots