Deepening IndiaS. Korea Ties
Context: As the balance of power in the region continues to shift fast, India and South Korea may need to overcome cultural biases and move closer to each other.
Issues in India - S.Korea Relationship:
Limited Economic Partnership:- Economic partnership stuck at $22 billion annually.
- Defence partnership has been reduced from all-round cooperation to mere purchase of the weapon system.
- E.g: there may be a widespread perception among South Koreans of India as a third world country, rife with poverty and hunger.
- Indians are unable to distinguish between the cultural and social characteristics of South Koreans and people of other East Asian nations.
Information Gap: stands in the way of integration of Indian diaspora with the local S.Korean population.
- Indians have failed to recognize the role of S.Korea in building an Asian view of the world.
- Defining traits of Japan’s and China’s culture are better identified than Korean culture.
Way Forward:
Strengthen Mutual Cultural Respect: mutual respect regarding cultural values is the key to building a robust partnership between the two countries.Develop People to people contacts:
- For E.g. Indian Cultural Centre in Seoul attempts to broaden base an appreciation of Indian culture by teaching south Indian dances to elementary school students in South Korea.
- Focus of wider audience beyond the urban, English speaking elite of Seoul.
Conclusions: A regional hegemon is already pushing hard into the ambit of the Indian Ocean. The sooner these bonds are renewed the better it would be for all Asian democracies.
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