As he arrived in India for a State visit, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Koreas and India must work closely as emerging global leaders amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, and that the 2 countries can give a new direction to multilateralism when it’s faced with mounting challenges. In an exclusive interview to TOI, Lee said while Korea exemplified remarkable economic growth under the multilateral trading system, India stood well placed to shape new global rules with its economic scale and dynamism. On China’s dominance in critical minerals, Lee said that reducing excessive dependence on any single country had become a matter of survival, directly linked to the economic security of both India and South Korea. Speaking on the Hormuz crisis, the president said that ensuring the security of critical maritime routes is essential for the survival of both nations and Korea will work together to ensure freedom of navigation in the key energy waterway. With focus now on defence industrial collaboration, the president said Seoul will fully back India’s “independent production” of defence equipment, while exploring joint technology development and coproduction. IIn an exclusive interview to Sachin Parashar and Alpyu Singh, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shared his vision for the special strategic partnership with India in key areas like trade, technology, critical minerals, defence and ship-building in which Seoul is a global leader. Excerpts: This is your first visit to India as president. How do you hope to further strengthen the special strategic partnership with India in the current circumstances, especially in key areas like trade, and critical and emerging technology? India – the world’s most populous country, the fourth-largest economy, and a leading voice of the Global South – is an ideal partner for the Republic of Korea. Our partnership rests not only on highly complementary economies, but also on shared core values of democracy and a market economy. At a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty and mounting challenges to multilateralism, it is more imperative than ever that Korea and India work closely together as emerging global leaders. Building on our Special Strategic Partnership, we will deepen comprehensive ties of cooperation that drives mutual growth and innovation, while expanding our strategic horizons. A key priority is accelerating negotiations to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Beyond traditional sectors such as electronics and automobiles, we will broaden cooperation into shipbuilding, finance, and the defense industry, bringing to life the vision of “Make in India, Together with Korea.” We will also step up collaboration in AI and digital technologies. Korea’s, world-class AI infrastructure and India’s vast pool of AI talent make us natural partners. Together, we will actively identify projects that generate meaningful synergy. At the same time, we will further expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, the enduring foundation of our relationship. By bringing together India’s rich cultural assets, exemplified by Bollywood, and Korea’s globally influential K-Culture, we aim to create even greater synergy. Since my first meeting with PM Modi in Canada in June last year, I have felt a genuine warmth and familiarity, as if reconnecting with an old friend. I believe in our shared commitment to people-centered politics, holding on to hope even in times of adversity. It’s therefore especially meaningful, and a great pleasure, for me to visit India and meet PM Modi again. I am confident that this visit will mark an important milestone in further strengthening the friendship and trust between our two nations. Like India, South Korea is heavily dependent on safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz for its energy needs. How can both countries work together to aid efforts to keep the key energy route open and minimise the impact of the West Asia crisis on global economy and energy security, as well as to de-risk supply chains globally? Both the Republic of Korea and India depend on the Middle East for a significant share of their energy supplies, including crude oil and natural gas. Accordingly, ensuring the security of critical maritime routes is essential to the safety of our peoples and the very survival of our nations. Korea will maintain close communication with India to ensure that all vessels can navigate the Strait of Hormuz safely and freely. We will also continue to work together in relevant international forums to uphold this shared commitment. Another task that our two countries must undertake together is diversifying energy supply chains. Amid growing uncertainties in the global economy, I am confident that forward-looking and strategic cooperation between Korea and India can substantially further our shared national interests. The strategic defence partnership has been strengthened by the co-production of K9 Vajra howitzers. How do you propose to take this partnership forward, especially in terms of technology-sharing that could boost India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative? The Republic of Korea fully supports India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It is a plan of significant industrial and economic potential, and I am confident that it will certainly be realized thanks to PM Modi’s steadfast commitment.However, self-reliance is difficult to achieve entirely on one’s own. Korea’s rapid industrial development and economic growth were made possible through considerable support and assistance from partner countries. In this regard, Korea seeks to serve as India’s key partner in advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. In particular, the K9 Vajra howitzer project stands as an exemplary case of our bilateral defense and defense industry cooperation. The contract for the second phase of the K9 Vajra project, signed in April last year, provides for more than 60 percent of the manufacturing process to be carried out in India. It is currently being implemented smoothly, as planned. Building on such examples of cooperation, Korea will continue to provide full support for India’s independent production and operation of defense equipment. Moreover, we will discuss various avenues of cooperation in joint technology development and coproduction as well as operations and maintenance, so that both countries’ defense industry ecosystems can advance together. Both countries are exploring opportunities for cooperation in critical energy transition minerals – amid global efforts for resource diversification to avoid reliance on China – and also in areas like the maritime sector and shipbuilding in which South Korea is a global leader. Is there any roadmap that you have in mind for a more result-oriented partnership in these areas? With global supply chains undergoing reconfiguration, reducing excessive dependence on any single country has become a matter of survival, directly linked to the economic security of both nations. In particular, securing critical minerals, which are essential for cutting-edge industries, and stabilizing the maritime logistics networks for those resources will be key factors in national competitiveness going forward. India possesses critical minerals, while Korea has the capabilities to manufacture them into rechargeable batteries, electric vehicles and other advanced products. This makes our two countries ideal partners for generating synergy. By moving beyond the traditional model of importing raw material and combining Korea’s technology with India’s mining and refining industries, we can work together to establish stable critical-mineral supply chains. There is also boundless potential for bilateral cooperation in the shipping and shipbuilding sectors. For India to emerge as a global logistics and manufacturing hub, securing shipbuilding and maritime transport capabilities is essential. With world-class expertise in shipbuilding and shipping, as well as extensive experience in overseas port projects, Korea is well positioned to become India’s foremost partner. I understand that relevant MOUs are expected to be signed during the upcoming visit. I look forward to the day when vessels jointly built by our two countries sail across the world’s oceans. Now that there are question marks about the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific under President Trump – and with Washington’s focus shifting also to West Asia – how do you propose to work with like-minded countries to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific? The world today faces complex and multi-layered crises. We are in a time of profound upheaval, as rising protectionism and the restructuring of global supply chains unsettle the foundation of the existing international order. The war in the Middle East has underscored the strategic reality that the Indian and Pacific Oceans form a single, interconnected maritime space – one whose stability no country can secure alone. Despite its intense dynamism and vast potential, the Indo-Pacific, has long remained more a beneficiary than a shaper of the international order, constrained by geopolitical tensions and the lack of institutional frameworks, Today, however, regional countries, including Korea, have the capacity to lead in strengthening multilateralism and advancing a rules-based order.As strategic coordination and unity across the Indo-Pacific have become ever more vital, my government will continue to expand cooperation with regional partners, including India. In this spirit, we participated this year in the International Fleet Review and the multilateral exercise MILAN hosted by India. We intend to join the India-led Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. Peace and prosperity are essential to realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific. To that end, we will deepen cooperation with key partners, including India, in strategic sectors such as shipbuilding, finance, AI, and the defense industry. Both India and South Korea have been at the receiving end of the US tariff policy. While Seoul has signed a trade deal under which it will invest $350 billion in US industries, India’s efforts for a bilateral trade agreement with Washington is still a work in progress. What’s the advice you can offer to New Delhi on managing the trade relationship with the US? Also, how can India and South Korea help in keeping the global trade framework multilateral, rules-based and inclusive? Korea and the US were able to reach a successful trade agreement last year because both sides pursued creative, pragmatic solutions grounded in mutual trust. A key elementof the agreement – “strategic investment in the United States” –was based on a shared understanding that Korea’s manufacturing sector can contribute to the revitalization of U.S. manufacturing. This enabled both countries to address pending tariff issues in an amicable manner, ultimately laying the groundwork for advancing industrial and supply chain cooperation.India possesses vast market potential as well as the geopolitical advantage of being a main pillar of the Indo-Pacific region. Accordingly, I believe that, rather than simply weighing the costs and benefits of opening the market, a more effective strategy would be highlighting India’s pivotal role in global trade. There is no denying that, even as it faces significant challenges today, the multilateral trading system has long stood as a central pillar of the international order, driving shared growth over the past several decades. Going forward, one of our most important tasks will be to safeguard the inclusivity of this system by establishing new rules that reflect the realities of a changing world. In this respect, India and Korea can play especially significant roles. Korea stands as a prime example of a country that achieved remarkable economic growth under the multilateral trading system, while India – with its vast economic scale and dynamism – is well positioned to help shape the new rules. Together, our two countries can take multilateralism in a new direction. The Korean Wave has a growing fan base in India. How can both countries leverage this cultural connect to deepen people-to-people ties through tourism, culture, cinema, music, education and collaborations between more creative industries? Recently, Made in Korea, a Korea–India coproduction set in Korea, topped Netflix India’s weekly film chart, gaining enormous popularity. Beyond just being a successful film, Made in Koreastands as a prime example of our two nations’boundless potential for cultural exchanges. India is emerging as a new hub of the global cultural industry, driven by its young and dynamic demographic structure, abundant creativity and advanced technological capabilities. Last year, HYBE – the agency behind BTS – established a subsidiary in Mumbai, a clear testament to the growing importance of the Indian market for Korea’s cultural industry. Our cultural exchange must now evolve into an era of co-creation. With both countries possessingcompelling cultural assets, technological expertise and outstanding talent, opportunities for cooperation – from content coproductionto talent development –are virtually boundless. There is also considerable potential in cultural heritage. Cooperation between National Museum of Korea and India’s planned Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum – envisioned as the largest of its kind in the world – could create a new model for sharing our heritage with future generations. Korea–India cultural cooperation and co-creation are ultimately about building new value together while respecting each other’s stories. At its core are people. Through deeper and broader collaboration across culture, tourism, education and the creative industries, I aim to bring our peoples closertogetherand build a shared future of growth. There is a rising interest among Indians in learning the Korean language. What steps is South Korea taking to support language learning and youth engagement to strengthen long-term cultural connections? Recently, interest in the Koreanlanguage and culture has been growing rapidly in India. A survey conducted last year revealed that approximately 83.8 percent of Indians expressed favorable views toward Korean cultural content. Thisdeepening interest and affection will form the strongest possible foundation for exchanges and cooperation between our two nations. Of great importance is the virtuous cycle that occurswhen learning language enhances cultural understanding, and cultural exchanges go on toincrease interest in the language. Currently, over 5,000 Indian students are studying Korean at the seven Sejong Institutes run by the Korean government and in Korean language classes at 43 primary and secondary schools across India. The Korean government is assisting with dispatchingteachers and distributing textbooks to enable more Indian citizens to learn Korean. Going forward, we plan to helpprovide Indians with Korean language education training. Moreover, we will implement more cultural experience programs at the Sejong Institutes to create synergy between cultural exchanges and language learning. Mutual interest between our younger generations, which stems from an understanding of language and culture, will further enrich our countries’futures. Both countries have strong capabilities in AI, semiconductors and emerging technologies. Are there plans for joint innovation hubs or co-development initiatives to strengthen global competitiveness? What do you see as the biggest challenges hindering deeper India–Korea cooperation today and what structural reforms are needed to boost investor confidence and sustain long-term engagement? We are living in an era of “global technological hegemony,” where national power hinges on cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and semiconductors. In this time of crisis, I am confident that both our countries’national interests will be greatly served if Korea’s world-class, state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities are combinedwith India’s software and talented individuals. Mahatma Gandhi, the great soul of India, once identified“science without humanity” asone of the “seven social sins.” His words, which resonate today inthe notion of “AI without humanity,” speak to the depth of India’s potential in AI and other advanced technological fields. On the occasion of the upcoming visit, a Korea–India Industrial Cooperation Committee is set to be newly established between Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation. In addition, an MOU will be signed between Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to promote policy exchanges and joint research and development in the digital domain. I hope these initiatives will serve as a catalyst for broadening the scope of cooperation between our two countries.There are still several tasks ahead to deliver tangible results. Most of all, it is essential to streamline complex administrative procedures and regulations centered onthe domestic market to create a free, predictable and transparent business environment.Such structural reforms will help our two countries earn trust from global investors and capital providersand emerge as true technology hubs.
