India-South Korea relations: How friendship grew over the years

India is expected to host South Korean President Moon Jae-in this year to add more strategic heft to its growing bilateral economic partnership. The two countries will look to build on convergences between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Act East Policy" and President moon's new "Southern Policy", which seek better ties with countries in the Indo-pacific region.

Bilateral consular relations were established between the two countries in 1962 which were upgraded to Ambassador-level in 1973. In course of time, Seoul's open market policies found resonance with India's economic liberalisation and "Look East" as well as "Act East" policies. Consistent Indian support for peaceful reunification of the two Koreas has been well received in the South.

A good indication of growing ties between South Korea and India is the fact that Hyundai, Samsung and LG are household names in India. South Korea's traditional food kimchi, made from fermented vegetables such as cabbage, and K-pop star Psy of Gangnam style fame are popular, too.

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But the dramatic upturn in ties did not happen overnight.

India-South Korea ties took off at the turn of the new millennium, with president APJ Abdul Kalam's visit to Seoul in the year 2006. It led to the launch of a joint task force to conclude an agreement called bilateral comprehensive economic partnership or CEPA. It was operationalised on January 1, 2010.

Trade and economic relations started to gather momentum following the implementation of CEPA in 2010 and the bilateral trade in 2011 crossed US $20.5 billion,  registering a 70 per cent growth over a two-year period.
 
The same year, South Korea's then President Lee Myung-bak visited New Delhi as the chief guest of India's Republic Day celebrations. He raised the ties to the strategic level.

One year later, in July 2011, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil paid a reciprocal visit to South Korea and a civil nuclear energy cooperation was signed during her visit.
 
In the following year, 2012, Prime Minister Manmohan singh travelled to Seoul for bilateral talks and to attend the nuclear security summit. Both sides signed a visa simplification agreement.

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye travelled to New Delhi in January 2014. The joint statement for expansion of strategic partnership issued during the visit unveiled a blue print for further expanding the political, security, defence and economic relations.

India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj was in Seoul in December 2014, and the defence minister in April, 2015.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited South Korea in May, 2015. During the visit, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to special strategic partnership.

The relationship witnessed new momentum following the inauguration of President Moon Jae-in's administration. PM Modi was the fourth international leader to congratulate President Moon on his election victory. PM Modi's congratulatory tweet in Korean language was well appreciated by President Moon, Korean media and common people.

President Moon reciprocated by sending Chung Dongchea, former culture minister, as his special envoy to India, first such instance in the bilateral relationship, and through subsequent announcement to upgrade the relationship with India equivalent to four traditional partners under the "New Asia Community Plus" framework.