INDIA AND SOUTH KOREA: STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

The disintegration of soviet Union and the end of cold war is a milestone in the international relations. It led to a marked change in the foreign policy priorities and alignment of nations. India too imported a sense of realism and new directions in her foreign policy to adjust her foreign relations policy to adjust her foreign relations in the changing global context. One of these new directions was India’s look East Policy announced in 1991, which laid emphasis on the development of close economic engagement with the countries of South_ East Asia and East Asia. While the first phase (1991-2001) of this policy focused on the development of close economic ties with the ASEAN member states of South-East, Asia, the second phase (2001-till now) focused on the strategic partnership with the countries of South-East Asia as well as East Asia.

South Korea or the Republic of Korea is located in East Asia and has achieved remarkable economic progress in last 20 years. It was counted as one of the Asian tigers ( economically fast developing countries) during 1990s. Strategically, it is closely linked with the defence umbrella of USA since the hey-day of cold war. It emerge as a separate nation after the end of Korea war (1950-53). The other half of the Korea War known as North Korea has been a communism state under the close ties of china and soviet Union during the cold war. Due to the politics of cold war , India could not develop close relations with those East Asian countries which were under the ambit of USA. How ever the end of cold war changed all equations among nations.

The end of cold war gave a new opportunity to India to develop close partnership with South Korea. The deep cultural ties between the two facilitated this partnership. A 13th century historical book, the Heritage History of Three Kingdom narrates that a princess of Indian city Ayodhya came to Korea in 48 AD and married Korea King Kim Suro. The royal dynasty is a famous political family of Korea and many of the present day politicians derive their lineage from his dynasty. Indian religion Buddhism has deep roots in south Korea. Both countries have similar colonial experience.


While India was under the British rule for long time, Korea was under Japanese imperialism till the end of Second World War.
After the end of war the civil war broke out between the northern and southern parts of korea , which is known as Korea war. In 1953, Korea was partitioned into two parts- North Korea and South Korea.
India’s cultural ambassador Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore visited Korea in 1929 and wished a bright future for Korea.

High Level Exchanges

After the end of cold war, both countries started exchange of high level visits In this series Indian Prime Minister Narsimha Rao visited South Korea in 1993, Which marks the beginning of close partnership between the two countries is the post cold war era . During this visit , both countries signed three agreements:

1. Agreement on cooperation in the field of tourism.

2. Cooperation agreement on science and technology

3. Cultural cooperation agreement . In return visit south Korean president visited India in 1996 which resulted in signing of three important agreements in the fields of promotion to investment, cultural cooperation and the establishment of India-Korea joint commission. However , the Asian Financial crisis of 1997 halted the further progress of economic ties between the two countries.

In February 1997. South Korean Prime Minister visited India and inaugurated Engineering Fair in New Delhi, in which South Korean firms made a major presence . In 2004 , South Korean President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visited South Korea in 2006. A major achievement of this visit was the establishment of a joint working group to finalise the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) . Finally the CEPA was signed on August 7, 2009 and came into force on January 1, 2010. The CEPA has facilitated he rapid progress of economic and commercial relations between the two countries. Under this agreement both countries would abolish import duty on 85-90 percent goods within a period of 10 years. The investment and services are also covered under CEPA.

India too gave due importance to her relations with South Korea . South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak was invited as the Chief Guest in the Republic Day function in January 2010. As a result of these high level exchanges, the trade , investment defence, technical cooperation, and cultural cooperation between the two countries have increased in last decade. The trade between the two countries has increased from $ 1.4 billion in 1997 to $ 17 billion in 2011. South Korean Companies have made considerable investment in India.

Both countries have agreed to cooperate in some defence and security issues like the protection of Sea lines of communication, and Cooperation between the coastguards of two countries.

Both countries have made considerable progress in the field of cultural and technological cooperation . Both are making cooperative effort in the fields of space science, automobiles, communication etc. Both countries have signed a comprehensive cultural cooperation agreement in 2010.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to South Korea, March 25, 2012

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan singh visit South Korea on March 25 , 2012 and discussed important issues of bilateral and multilateral nature with the President Lee Myung-Bak. Both countries have signed a joint statement which is subtitled as ‘ developing the strategic partnership’. It should be noted that the two countries elevated their relations to the level of strategic partnership in 2010 during President Lee’s visit to India in January 2010.

During this visit of March 2012, the two countries decided to deepen the strategic partnership. The following points of the joint statement cover separate focus.

1.Strengthening Political and Security Cooperation

Both leaders appreciated the role of Indo-Rok joint commission. Its 7th meeting shall be held in New Delhi in 2012 itself . The joint commission is co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries . Both leaders under lined the importance of the ongoing foreign policy and security dialogue at the secretary level. Both countries desired to strengthen cooperation in the fields of defence and security particularly in the field of maritime safety and security both bilaterally and in association with other countries of the region. Both decided to continue high level exchange between the defence establishments of two countries, undertake activities as mutually agreed for deepening bilateral defence relation and to explore the possibility of joint ventures in research in development and manufacturer of military equipment , in changing through the transfer of technology and co-production.

2.Expanding Economic and Trade Cooperation

Both leaders express satisfaction, that the bilateral trade has increased 70 percent in two years since the entry of CEPA into force. The bilateral trade has reached to $ 20 billion marks in 2011. Both leader have set a target of $ 40 billion by the year 2015 . Both countries would explore constructive and forward looking ways to facilitate greater market access to each other’s product and services. Indian Prime Minister invited the investment from South Korean firms to the $ 1 billion infrastructure development plan of India, 1912-1917. Both decided to explore the possibility of joint investment in third countries.

3.Enhancing Science and Technology Cooperation

Both leaders welcomed the upgrading of the joint committee on science and technology to the ministerial level as a foundation for the $ 10 billion joint R&D fund is actually being utilized for joint research projects and other science and technology related programmes. Both leaders pledged to enhance cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space as envisages in the MoU on cooperation between the space organizations of the two countries . Both leaders also expressed satisfied at the conclusion of a bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement in July 2011.

4.Promoting Culture, Education and people to people Exchanges.

The two leaders appreciated the successful organization of reciprocal year long cultural festivals in both countries during 2011. Both decided to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in befitting manner in 2013. South Korea leader appreciated the opening of Indian cultural centre in seoul in july 2011 and declared that a Korean Cultural Center will be opened in India in near future. Both agreed to encourage exchange between the educational Institutions.
Both agreed to encourage media and parliamentary exchanges and to promote people tp people exchange .

5.Furthering Cooperation in the International Arena

The last major point In the joint statement is the desire of the two countries to enhance cooperation on various global issues and challenges. Both pleaded for the greater role of G-20 to subside the ongoing global financial crisis. It should be noted that both countries are the active members of G-200, which is grouping of 20 leading economies of the world. Both leaders also recognized the need for comprehensive UN reform including Security Council expansion to make it more representative and effective. Both leaders felt the need to maintain peace and stability in Korean peninsula including its denuclearization. It was a hint towards the ongoing programme of North Korea. Both leaders expressed the desire to end the menace of terrorism, privacy with the help of international cooperation. Both expressed concern over the proliferation of weapons of mars destruction and challenge of nuclear terrorism . The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation and coordination between their courtiers, within the framework of East Asia Summit , which they acknowledged should continue to remain as ASEN led, open transparent and inclusive structure. These two leader also welcomed the commencement of a trilateral India-Pok –Japan Dialogue among the think tanks of three countries, the first of which will be held in 2012.

The foregoing analysis of strategic partnership between India and short period of one decade, the relationship between the two countries has moved to the level of strategic partnership. The multifaceted relations between the two countries have become deep and closer in the field of trade, investment , defence culture and science and technology. The regional and global strategic combinations also favour the deepening of strategic partnership between the two countries. South Korean brand names have earned Much promise in Indian Markets.

Source: PRATIYOGITA DARPAN