'State Visit to India' President Lee: "Summit Will Take Bilateral Relations to a Completely New Level" (Comprehensive)

Expressing Determination to Expand Cooperation at the Meeting with Korean Residents

Strengthening the 'Special Strategic Partnership'

"India, a Key Partner in Overcoming the Middle East Crisis"

Highlighting First-Generation Koreans and Mentioning Choi Inhun's Novel 'The Square'

"Will Do Our Utmost to Prevent Such Tragedies from Happening Again"

Korea-India Summit with Prime Minister Modi Scheduled for the 20th

President Lee Jaemyung, who is on a state visit to India, stated that the Korea-India summit would mark a complete transformation in bilateral relations. He emphasized that India is a crucial partner in overcoming the global energy supply chain crisis caused by the Middle East war, and expressed his intention to actively expand cooperation between the two countries.

On the 19th (local time), at a hotel in New Delhi, President Lee held a meeting with Korean residents and remarked, "India is no longer simply a consumer market, but has become a key nation leading global production and supply chains. However, the current level of Korea-India cooperation remains low compared to India's vast potential." The number of Korean residents in India is only around 12,000, and approximately 760 Korean companies are operating there. Upon his arrival in India, President Lee held a closed-door meeting with Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and added, "The Indian authorities also share this view."

President Jae-myung Lee, who is on a state visit to India, is giving a greeting speech at a dinner meeting with compatriots held at a hotel in New Delhi on the 19th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

President Lee particularly underscored that India is an important partner in jointly overcoming global supply chain instability caused by the Middle East war. He stated, "With supply chain instability and economic crises becoming a constant in the aftermath of the Middle East war, Korea and India are set to become extremely important strategic partners for each other," highlighting the necessity for cooperation in energy, supply chain, and production bases. At their meeting, Minister Jaishankar also said, "As the unstable international situation, including the Middle East war, continues for an extended period, we hope to turn this crisis into an opportunity to further solidify Korea-India relations."

President Lee also spoke about the history of the Korean community in India, giving it special significance. He said, "While India is known as an economic powerhouse with the world's largest population, what comes to my mind first when I think of India is author Choi Inhun's novel 'The Square'." Recalling the stories of those who chose India—a third country—rather than the North or South in the wake of the Korean War's tragic division, he noted that India is a country closely tied to the pains of modern Korean history.

Referring to the first generation of Koreans who settled in India after the Korean War, President Lee said, "I will do my utmost to ensure that such tragic events never happen again in the Republic of Korea, which has now achieved both economic development and democratization after overcoming colonial rule, division, war, and military dictatorship." He went on to say, "The passion and dedication of the first generation laid the foundation for today's Korean community in India, and recently, led by the Korean Association, the community has exemplified the spirit of mutual support, such as collecting funds to help compatriots in need with surgery expenses."

President Lee promised to actively address the suggestions and requests from the Korean community in India. "I asked the Korean community in India to gather issues, areas for improvement, and suggestions through the embassy, and about 40 items have been collected," he said. "Globally, about 1,400 items have been gathered, most of which relate to Korean schools, visas, and voting rights."

President Jae-myung Lee and First Lady Hyekyung Kim, who are on a state visit to India, are entering the compatriots dinner meeting held at a hotel in New Delhi on the 19th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Korean Association: "We have not slept peacefully for a single night since the 12·3 Emergency Martial Law" ... "We hope policy, business, and community cooperation lead to tangible results"

Earlier, in his welcoming remarks, Cho Sanghyun, President of the Korean Association in India, said, "The majority of overseas Koreans could not sleep peacefully for even a single night after witnessing the crisis of democracy in our homeland triggered by the declaration of martial law on the night of December 3, 2024. It is a great honor and gratitude that you have visited India as a proud president, not an embarrassing one, and have wisely helped overcome the rebellion on the side of the overwhelming majority of our people."

President Cho added, "Although India has been slower than other countries, K-pop, dramas, and food are spreading rapidly, and Hallyu consumption is growing especially among the younger generation. The atmosphere in India, once rigid and conservative, is changing quickly, and Korean companies and small business owners are expanding their achievements within this trend." He continued, "With this visit, India's 1.5 billion population is now more clearly recognized as an economic territory for Korea to expand into, and I hope the combined efforts of government policy, business, and the Korean community will lead to tangible results."

Jinhee Ji, CEO of Jinhwa Partners and granddaughter of the late Jikicheol, the founding president of the Delhi Korean Association, shared the story of her grandfather, who settled in India as a Korean War prisoner of war and laid the foundation for the Korean community in India. She expressed her determination to serve as a connector between the two countries so that Korean companies can establish themselves in the vast Indian market while maintaining their Korean identity and adapting to India.

Jeong Jooyoung, President of the Young Korean Business Association in India, emphasized, "India is a market full of opportunities, but also high uncertainty. It is important to understand cultural and procedural differences through 'trust' and 'flexibility'." He also introduced the efforts of young Korean entrepreneurs to spread Korean culture, including the recent 'Korea Street Fair' held in New Delhi.

On this day, President Lee wore a green tie reflecting the colors of the Indian flag, and First Lady Kim Hyekyung wore a hanbok skirt of the same color. The Office of the President explained, "This showed respect for India and a warm welcome to the Korean community." During the gathering, students from the New Delhi Korean School performed to "Soda Pop," a song featured in the Netflix animation K-Pop Demon Hunters.

Meanwhile, President Lee's state visit to India is being carried out over three days from April 19 to 21. On April 20, his schedule includes an official welcoming ceremony, a wreath-laying at the Gandhi Memorial, private and expanded talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an MOU exchange ceremony, a joint press statement, an official luncheon, the Korea-India Business Dialogue, a business forum, and a state dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. This visit marks the first state visit to India by a Korean president in eight years, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.