Context

• During the past five years, India and South Korea have experienced considerable divergence in their respective national objectives.

Background

• Bilateral relations between India and South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea, were established in 1962 and upgraded to Ambassador-level in 1973.
• South Korea’s open market policies found resonance with India’s economic liberalization, and its ‘look east policy’ and ‘act east policy’.
• The relations has become truly multidimensional, spurred by a significant convergence of interests, mutual goodwill and high level exchanges.
• During PM Modi’s visit to ROK in May 2015, the sides elevated the ties to ‘Special Strategic Partnership’.
• President Moon’s India visit marked the 45^th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Why India is important for South-Korea?

• One of the points that the Koreans have been making to India is that they see India as a country that is now strategically important to them
• South Korea also finds in India a very acceptable partner.
• India doesn’t have edges which can create problems for them. They are aware of one factor which they have grown up with, which is the Pakistan factor.
• With new issues cropping up in ties with China and America, export-driven South Korea must find new markets.
• South Korea’s economic growth has slowed, presenting it with important challenges.
• South Korea is targeting economies with the greatest growth potential like India.
• South Korea is too heavily dependent on China’s market. So diversification is essential for South Korea..
• Need cooperation for development in third countries, like capacity building programmes in Africa

India – South Korea Relations

• Political:
  • In May 2015, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to ‘special strategic partnership’.
  • 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 India aims to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific.
• Regional Stability:
  • The regional tensions in South Asia especially between India and China create a common interest for India and South Korea.
  • This could be a collaborative approach for regional stability.
• Nuclear: 
  • South Korea’s key interest in managing their nuclear neighbour (North Korea) is similar to India’s considerations toward Pakistan.
  • The US alliance system, established with South Korea and Japan, puts pressure on North Korea to cap its nuclear programme.
  • Containing North Korea is beneficial to India’s economic and regional ambit in East Asia.
  • It also adds to its approach to the nuclear non-proliferation regime as a responsible nuclear state.
• Economic:
  • The current bilateral trade between India and South Korea is at USD 21 billion and the target that has been set is USD 50 billion by the year 2030.
  • India and South Korea have signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), 2010 which has facilitated the growth of trade relations.
  • To facilitate investment from Korea, India has launched a “Korea Plus”facilitation cell under ‘Invest India’ to guide, assist and handhold investors.
• Diplomatic:
  • There is a long-lasting regional security dilemma with the continued verbal provocations and a conventional arms race.
  • Thus, despite the alliance system, Seoul appears to be searching for a stronger diplomatic stand on imminent regional issues beyond the alliance system.
  • South Korea’s approach to India comes with strategic optimism for expanding ties to ensure a convergence of interest in planning global and regional strategic frameworks.
• Cultural:
  • Korean Buddhist Monk Hyecho or Hong Jiao visited India from 723 to 729 AD and wrote the travelogue “Pilgrimage to the five kingdoms of India” which gives a vivid account of Indian culture, politics & society.
  • Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore had composed a short but evocative poem – ‘Lamp of the East’ – in 1929 about Korea’s glorious past and its promising bright future.

Challenges

• 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.
  • Trade between the two countries was sluggish and there was no major inflow of South Korean investment into India.
  • No upgrade in CEPA: India and South Korea were also trying to upgrade their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) agreement, but to no avail.
• 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.
• 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.
•  Divergence in objectives
• During the past five years, India and South Korea have experienced considerable divergence in their respective national objectives.
• There was a clear drift by South Korea away from multilateral security initiatives led by the United States, such as the Quad (the U.S., Australia, India and Japan); meanwhile, India has been actively participating in them.

Change in Korean foreign and security policies and opportunities for India

• The newly elected Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, has brought about a paradigm shift in South Korean foreign and security policies.
• He has proposed that South Korea should step up to become a “global pivotal state, anchored in liberal values and a rules-based order”.
• Opportunities for India: South Korea’s new willingness to become a global pivotal state and play an active role in regional affairs is bound to create multiple opportunities for a multi-dimensional India- Korea partnership.
• South Korea’s strategic policy shift to correct its heavy tilt towards China is bound to bring new economic opportunities for both countries.
• The trade target of $50 billion by 2030, which looked all but impossible a few months ago, now seems within reach.
• Convergence of capabilities: The emerging strategic alignment is creating a new convergence of capabilities and closer synergy in new areas of economic cooperation such as public health, green growth, digital connectivity, and trade, among others.
• With the strategic shift in South Korea’s defence orientation, new doors of cooperation for defence and security have emerged.
• Defence cooperation: Advanced defence technologies and modern combat systems are the new domains for the next level of defence cooperation between the two countries.
• A Roadmap for Defence Industries Cooperation between the Republic of India and the Republic of Korea (ROK) was signed in 2020.
• Maritime security: South Korea’s participation in additional maritime security activities in the Indian Ocean, such as the annual Malabar and other exercises with Quad countries, will further strengthen India’s naval footprint in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Defence policy coordination: The shift in South Korean policies will enable a strong India, South Korea and Japan defence policy coordination that could effectively forge new joint regional security policies.

Challenges

• Chinese pressure: The Chinese leadership is adversely impacted by policy changes brought in by the Yoon administration.
• The real challenge for global geopolitics is this: can South Korea withstand the inevitable Chinese pressure and stick to its new alignment?
• Tension with North Korea: South Korea’s peace process with North Korea has completely collapsed.
• In the coming days, as North Korea conducts more missile and nuclear tests, it may lead to regional tension.
• Any breakout of hostilities on the Korean Peninsula can derail South Korea’s Indo-Pacific project.

Way forward

• Strategic partnership: India has evolved excellent strategic partnerships with Japan, Vietnam and Australia.
• South Korea could be the fourth pillar in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy along with Japan, Australia, and Vietnam.
• This can bring about a paradigm shift in India’s position and influence in the region.
• The time has come for the Indian and South Korean bilateral partnership to be strategically scaled up at the political, diplomatic and security domain levels.
• With South Korea’s emergence as a leader in critical technologies, cybersecurity and cyber-capacity building, outer space and space situational awareness capabilities, South Korea can contribute immensely to enhance India’s foundational strengths in the Indo-Pacific.
• India can help South Korea withstand Chinese pressure and North Korean threats.
• This new partnership can have a long-term positive impact for both countries and the Indo-Pacific region.
• It is an opportunity that neither country can afford to miss.

Conclusion

An independent, strong, and democratic South Korea can be a long-term partner with India, that will add significant value to India’s Indo-Pacific strategy.

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