Written by Torunika Roy
India and South Korea have come a long way since the establishment of their diplomatic ties. The official relationship of both countries is now half a century old as they continue to cooperate in various fields of culture, technology, business, defence, etc., making their connection more robust and dynamic. Both India and South Korea celebrate August 15 as Independence Day. India gained independence from the British in 1947 and Korea was liberated from Japanese rule in 1945. However, they could only establish a full diplomatic relation (ambassadorial level) in 1973, roughly 25 years after Independence. The relationship could not bloom well as their ties were mired in ideological and structural roadblocks.
Historically speaking, the ancient annals of Korea such as Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) hint at a much older connection with India. It presents the story of Princess Heo Hwang-ok (Suriratna) of the Ayuta (Ayodhya) kingdom, who married King Suro of the Kaya kingdom, in Southeastern Korea. Although some historians believe that Ayuta may represent the Ayutthaya Kingdom of Thailand, there still exists research to prove the historical connection between India and Korea. “The tombs of King Kim Suro and Queen Heo are located in Gimhae city…enduring the symbols of Indian heritage such as stone carvings of pairs of fish on the doorframe,” mentions Ambassador Skand Ranjan Tayal in his book India and the Republic of Korea Engaged Democracies (2015) In 2022, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also inaugurated the Queen Heo Memorial Park during Deepavali celebrations in Ayodhya. The memorial portrays the journey of Princess Suriratna to become Queen Heo Hwang-ok and depicts the historical connection of both countries.
There is also a mutual love for each other’s culture. In September 2022, commenting on cultural exchange between India and South Korea (for a student-led magazine, Ytharth), Dr Sonu Trivedi, the former Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, Seoul, said, “Popular movies like Three Idiots, My Name is Khan, Tare Zameen Par, and Guzaarish have attracted many young Koreans” towards Bollywood. She also mentioned that the “soft power of both India and Korea in terms of Yoga, Buddhism, Bollywood, culture, cuisine, and K-wave… has deepened people-to-people ties and has bridged human connection.” On the Indian side, the astounding popularity of K-dramas and movies like Descendants of the Sun, Squid Game, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Train to Busan, and Parasite have helped promote Korean culture among Indians, leading to a rise of Korean language learners in India. As per a report by Netflix, the Indian viewership of K-dramas on Netflix increased more than 370% between 2019 and 2020.
Setting a milestone in their relationship, both countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of India-South Korea diplomatic relations in 2023. Nonetheless, India and South Korea did not establish direct diplomatic engagements until the 1960s. Unlike contemporary times and despite a probable historical and cultural connection, both countries could not engage in trade or cultural links for nearly two decades after gaining Independence. Both countries have gone through colonialism. The commonalities in their experience of the freedom struggle should have brought them closer sooner. However, due to initial differences during the Cold War era between India and South Korea and structural reasons, both countries underwent a slow and challenging journey in establishing diplomatic ties.
India has been the breeding ground for exceptionally talented chefs who have made a global impact, earning Michelin stars while promoting Indian cuisine. Indian culinary traditions, ingredients, and techniques are iconic in their own right. A chef who brings these flavours to the global stage is poised for success. Gujarat-based celebrity chef Aanal Kotak fits the bill perfectly as the restaurateur, and entrepreneur recently opened a branch of her popular restaurant The Secret Kitchen in Gujarat’s UNESCO city of Patan. The unusual choice of place was a long time coming, feels Aanal, 33.
“Patan boasts a wealth of cultural heritage, yet it has often been overlooked, despite its significant contributions to the nation’s history. While The Secret Kitchen has already established a strong presence in most major cities of Gujarat like Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, etc., I believe my journey within the state will be truly fulfilled when TSK marks its foray in Patan,” said Aanal, who is the co-founder of TSK Hospitality LLP.
