Mumbai, April 18: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s three-day visit to India, starting Sunday, is seen as a pivotal moment in enhancing bilateral relations between India and South Korea. This visit aims to strengthen ties beyond economic cooperation, focusing on security, culture, and people-to-people connections.
According to a report by the international magazine The Diplomat, 2026 could be remembered as the beginning of a new phase in the second decade of the “Special Strategic Partnership.”
The report highlights that the last state visit by a South Korean president to India occurred in July 2018, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi last visited South Korea in February 2019. Since then, interactions between the top leaders of both nations have largely been confined to multilateral platforms.
This stagnation comes at a time when India’s strategic position on the global stage is rapidly strengthening. Amid increasing global instability, many countries and companies are viewing India as a reliable partner. India has surpassed France and the United Kingdom to become the world’s fifth-largest economy, with projections suggesting it could overtake Japan and Germany to reach third place by the end of this decade.
The report also notes that India, the world’s largest democracy and most populous nation, has improved its business environment through significant investments in infrastructure and the liberalization of foreign direct investment (FDI) regulations.
However, the report emphasizes that India and South Korea have yet to fully explore potential synergies in their multi-alignment approaches, even as favorable conditions are rapidly emerging.
Scheduled from April 19 to 21, this visit could bring significant changes to the current diplomatic landscape.
The report states that the current South Korean government, which came to power in June 2025, is committed to advancing former President Moon Jae-in’s “New Southern Policy,” aimed at strengthening relations with emerging economies in Asia.
The government is signaling its preparation for a multipolar world order by using the term “Global South” in its “123 National Policy Agenda.” In this context, strengthening ties with India, regarded as a leading voice of the Global South, appears to be a priority for Seoul.
The report also emphasizes the complementary capabilities between India and South Korea, particularly in strategic sectors like defense and shipbuilding, which present significant opportunities for enhancing value chains and economic security.
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