As he arrived in India for a State go to, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung mentioned Koreas and India should work intently as rising world leaders amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, and that the two nations may give a brand new course to multilateralism when it’s confronted with mounting challenges. In an unique interview to TOI, Lee mentioned whereas Korea exemplified exceptional financial development underneath the multilateral buying and selling system, India stood effectively positioned to form new world guidelines with its financial scale and dynamism. On China’s dominance in important minerals, Lee mentioned that lowering extreme dependence on any single nation had develop into a matter of survival, straight linked to the financial safety of each India and South Korea. Talking on the Hormuz disaster, the president mentioned that making certain the safety of important maritime routes is crucial for the survival of each nations and Korea will work collectively to make sure freedom of navigation in the important thing power waterway. With focus now on defence industrial collaboration, the president mentioned Seoul will absolutely again India’s “impartial manufacturing” of defence gear, whereas exploring joint expertise growth and coproduction. IIn an unique interview to Sachin Parashar and Alpyu Singh, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shared his imaginative and prescient for the particular strategic partnership with India in key areas like commerce, expertise, important minerals, defence and ship-building during which Seoul is a world chief. Excerpts: That is your first go to to India as president. How do you hope to additional strengthen the particular strategic partnership with India within the present circumstances, particularly in key areas like commerce, and important and rising expertise? India – the world’s most populous nation, the fourth-largest economic system, and a number one voice of the International South – is a perfect associate for the Republic of Korea. Our partnership rests not solely on extremely complementary economies, but additionally on shared core values of democracy and a market economic system. At a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty and mounting challenges to multilateralism, it’s extra crucial than ever that Korea and India work intently collectively as rising world leaders. Constructing on our Particular Strategic Partnership, we are going to deepen complete ties of cooperation that drives mutual development and innovation, whereas increasing our strategic horizons. A key precedence is accelerating negotiations to improve the Complete Financial Partnership Settlement (CEPA). Past conventional sectors akin to electronics and vehicles, we are going to broaden cooperation into shipbuilding, finance, and the protection trade, bringing to life the imaginative and prescient of “Make in India, Along with Korea.” We can even step up collaboration in AI and digital applied sciences. Korea’s, world-class AI infrastructure and India’s huge pool of AI expertise make us pure companions. Collectively, we are going to actively establish tasks that generate significant synergy. On the similar time, we are going to additional broaden cultural and people-to-people exchanges, the enduring basis of our relationship. By bringing collectively India’s wealthy cultural belongings, exemplified by Bollywood, and Korea’s globally influential Okay-Tradition, we purpose to create even larger synergy. Since my first assembly with PM Modi in Canada in June final yr, I’ve felt a real heat and familiarity, as if reconnecting with an previous buddy. I imagine in our shared dedication to people-centered politics, holding on to hope even in occasions of adversity. It’s subsequently particularly significant, and an awesome pleasure, for me to go to India and meet PM Modi once more. I’m assured that this go to will mark an essential milestone in additional strengthening the friendship and belief between our two nations. Like India, South Korea is closely depending on protected passage of ships by way of the Strait of Hormuz for its power wants. How can each nations work collectively to help efforts to maintain the important thing power route open and minimise the impression of the West Asia disaster on world economic system and power safety, in addition to to de-risk provide chains globally? Each the Republic of Korea and India rely on the Center East for a major share of their power provides, together with crude oil and pure gasoline. Accordingly, making certain the safety of important maritime routes is crucial to the protection of our peoples and the very survival of our nations. Korea will keep shut communication with India to make sure that all vessels can navigate the Strait of Hormuz safely and freely. We can even proceed to work collectively in related worldwide boards to uphold this shared dedication. One other activity that our two nations should undertake collectively is diversifying power provide chains. Amid rising uncertainties within the world economic system, I’m assured that forward-looking and strategic cooperation between Korea and India can considerably additional our shared nationwide pursuits. The strategic defence partnership has been strengthened by the co-production of K9 Vajra howitzers. How do you plan to take this partnership ahead, particularly when it comes to technology-sharing that would enhance India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative? The Republic of Korea absolutely helps India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It’s a plan of serious industrial and financial potential, and I’m assured that it’s going to definitely be realized because of PM Modi’s steadfast dedication.Nevertheless, self-reliance is tough to attain fully on one’s personal. Korea’s speedy industrial growth and financial development have been made potential by way of appreciable help and help from associate nations. On this regard, Korea seeks to function India’s key associate in advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Specifically, the K9 Vajra howitzer venture stands as an exemplary case of our bilateral protection and protection trade cooperation. The contract for the second part of the K9 Vajra venture, signed in April final yr, offers for greater than 60 % of the manufacturing course of to be carried out in India. It’s presently being carried out easily, as deliberate. Constructing on such examples of cooperation, Korea will proceed to supply full help for India’s impartial manufacturing and operation of protection gear. Furthermore, we are going to focus on numerous avenues of cooperation in joint expertise growth and coproduction in addition to operations and upkeep, in order that each nations’ protection trade ecosystems can advance collectively. Each nations are exploring alternatives for cooperation in important power transition minerals – amid world efforts for useful resource diversification to keep away from reliance on China – and in addition in areas just like the maritime sector and shipbuilding during which South Korea is a world chief. Is there any roadmap that you’ve got in thoughts for a extra result-oriented partnership in these areas? With world provide chains present process reconfiguration, lowering extreme dependence on any single nation has develop into a matter of survival, straight linked to the financial safety of each nations. Specifically, securing important minerals, that are important for cutting-edge industries, and stabilizing the maritime logistics networks for these sources will likely be key elements in nationwide competitiveness going ahead. India possesses important minerals, whereas Korea has the capabilities to fabricate them into rechargeable batteries, electrical autos and different superior merchandise. This makes our two nations ultimate companions for producing synergy. By shifting past the normal mannequin of importing uncooked materials and mixing Korea’s expertise with India’s mining and refining industries, we will work collectively to determine steady critical-mineral provide chains. There’s additionally boundless potential for bilateral cooperation within the delivery and shipbuilding sectors. For India to emerge as a world logistics and manufacturing hub, securing shipbuilding and maritime transport capabilities is crucial. With world-class experience in shipbuilding and delivery, in addition to in depth expertise in abroad port tasks, Korea is effectively positioned to develop into India’s foremost associate. I perceive that related MOUs are anticipated to be signed throughout the upcoming go to. I look ahead to the day when vessels collectively constructed by our two nations sail internationally’s oceans. Now that there are query marks concerning the US dedication to the Indo-Pacific underneath President Trump – and with Washington’s focus shifting additionally to West Asia – how do you plan to work with like-minded nations to make sure a free and open Indo-Pacific? The world right now faces advanced and multi-layered crises. We’re in a time of profound upheaval, as rising protectionism and the restructuring of world provide chains unsettle the muse of the prevailing worldwide order. The battle within the Center East has underscored the strategic actuality that the Indian and Pacific Oceans kind a single, interconnected maritime house – one whose stability no nation can safe alone. Regardless of its intense dynamism and huge potential, the Indo-Pacific, has lengthy remained extra a beneficiary than a shaper of the worldwide order, constrained by geopolitical tensions and the shortage of institutional frameworks, As we speak, nonetheless, regional nations, together with Korea, have the capability to guide in strengthening multilateralism and advancing a rules-based order.As strategic coordination and unity throughout the Indo-Pacific have develop into ever extra important, my authorities will proceed to broaden cooperation with regional companions, together with India. On this spirit, we participated this yr within the Worldwide Fleet Evaluation and the multilateral train MILAN hosted by India. We intend to affix the India-led Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. Peace and prosperity are important to realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific. To that finish, we are going to deepen cooperation with key companions, together with India, in strategic sectors akin to shipbuilding, finance, AI, and the protection trade. Each India and South Korea have been on the receiving finish of the US tariff coverage. Whereas Seoul has signed a commerce deal underneath which it is going to make investments $350 billion in US industries, India’s efforts for a bilateral commerce settlement with Washington continues to be a piece in progress. What’s the recommendation you possibly can supply to New Delhi on managing the commerce relationship with the US? Additionally, how can India and South Korea assist in holding the worldwide commerce framework multilateral, rules-based and inclusive? Korea and the US have been in a position to attain a profitable commerce settlement final yr as a result of each side pursued inventive, pragmatic options grounded in mutual belief. A key elementof the settlement – “strategic funding in america” –was primarily based on a shared understanding that Korea’s manufacturing sector can contribute to the revitalization of U.S. manufacturing. This enabled each nations to handle pending tariff points in an amicable method, in the end laying the groundwork for advancing industrial and provide chain cooperation.India possesses huge market potential in addition to the geopolitical benefit of being a primary pillar of the Indo-Pacific area. Accordingly, I imagine that, slightly than merely weighing the prices and advantages of opening the market, a more practical technique can be highlighting India’s pivotal position in world commerce. There isn’t a denying that, even because it faces important challenges right now, the multilateral buying and selling system has lengthy stood as a central pillar of the worldwide order, driving shared development over the previous a number of a long time. Going ahead, one in every of our most essential duties will likely be to safeguard the inclusivity of this method by establishing new guidelines that replicate the realities of a altering world. On this respect, India and Korea can play particularly important roles. Korea stands as a primary instance of a rustic that achieved exceptional financial development underneath the multilateral buying and selling system, whereas India – with its huge financial scale and dynamism – is effectively positioned to assist form the brand new guidelines. Collectively, our two nations can take multilateralism in a brand new course. The Korean Wave has a rising fan base in India. How can each nations leverage this cultural connect with deepen people-to-people ties by way of tourism, tradition, cinema, music, schooling and collaborations between extra inventive industries? Lately, Made in Korea, a Korea–India coproduction set in Korea, topped Netflix India’s weekly movie chart, gaining monumental reputation. Past simply being a profitable movie, Made in Koreastands as a primary instance of our two nations’boundless potential for cultural exchanges. India is rising as a brand new hub of the worldwide cultural trade, pushed by its younger and dynamic demographic construction, ample creativity and superior technological capabilities. Final yr, HYBE – the company behind BTS – established a subsidiary in Mumbai, a transparent testomony to the rising significance of the Indian marketplace for Korea’s cultural trade. Our cultural trade should now evolve into an period of co-creation. With each nations possessingcompelling cultural belongings, technological experience and excellent expertise, alternatives for cooperation – from content material coproductionto expertise growth –are just about boundless. There’s additionally appreciable potential in cultural heritage. Cooperation between Nationwide Museum of Korea and India’s deliberate Yuge Yugeen Bharat Nationwide Museum – envisioned as the biggest of its sort on the planet – may create a brand new mannequin for sharing our heritage with future generations. Korea–India cultural cooperation and co-creation are in the end about constructing new worth collectively whereas respecting one another’s tales. At its core are individuals. By way of deeper and broader collaboration throughout tradition, tourism, schooling and the inventive industries, I purpose to convey our peoples closertogetherand construct a shared way forward for development. There’s a rising curiosity amongst Indians in studying the Korean language. What steps is South Korea taking to help language studying and youth engagement to strengthen long-term cultural connections? Lately, curiosity within the Koreanlanguage and tradition has been rising quickly in India. A survey performed final yr revealed that roughly 83.8 % of Indians expressed favorable views towards Korean cultural content material. Thisdeepening curiosity and affection will kind the strongest potential basis for exchanges and cooperation between our two nations. Of nice significance is the virtuous cycle that occurswhen studying language enhances cultural understanding, and cultural exchanges go on toincrease curiosity within the language. At the moment, over 5,000 Indian college students are finding out Korean on the seven Sejong Institutes run by the Korean authorities and in Korean language lessons at 43 main and secondary faculties throughout India. The Korean authorities is aiding with dispatchingteachers and distributing textbooks to allow extra Indian residents to study Korean. Going ahead, we plan to helpprovide Indians with Korean language schooling coaching. Furthermore, we are going to implement extra cultural expertise packages on the Sejong Institutes to create synergy between cultural exchanges and language studying. Mutual curiosity between our youthful generations, which stems from an understanding of language and tradition, will additional enrich our nations’futures. Each nations have sturdy capabilities in AI, semiconductors and rising applied sciences. Are there plans for joint innovation hubs or co-development initiatives to strengthen world competitiveness? What do you see as the most important challenges hindering deeper India–Korea cooperation right now and what structural reforms are wanted to spice up investor confidence and maintain long-term engagement? We live in an period of “world technological hegemony,” the place nationwide energy hinges on cutting-edge applied sciences like synthetic intelligence and semiconductors. On this time of disaster, I’m assured that each our nations’nationwide pursuits will likely be vastly served if Korea’s world-class, state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities are combinedwith India’s software program and gifted people. Mahatma Gandhi, the nice soul of India, as soon as recognized“science with out humanity” asone of the “seven social sins.” His phrases, which resonate right now inthe notion of “AI with out humanity,” communicate to the depth of India’s potential in AI and different superior technological fields. On the event of the upcoming go to, a Korea–India Industrial Cooperation Committee is ready to be newly established between Korea’s Ministry of Commerce, Business and Assets and India’s Ministry of Commerce and Business to debate methods to boost bilateral cooperation. As well as, an MOU will likely be signed between Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and India’s Ministry of Electronics and Info Expertise to advertise coverage exchanges and joint analysis and growth within the digital area. I hope these initiatives will function a catalyst for broadening the scope of cooperation between our two nations.There are nonetheless a number of duties forward to ship tangible outcomes. Most of all, it’s important to streamline advanced administrative procedures and laws centered onthe home market to create a free, predictable and clear enterprise setting.Such structural reforms will assist our two nations earn belief from world buyers and capital providersand emerge as true expertise hubs.