South Korea's Ambassador to India, Lee Seong-ho, on Friday, 18 September 2026, described the India-South Korea relationship as one of the most promising bilateral partnerships of the 21st century, saying the two nations are expanding their cooperation 'very rapidly' across politics, economy, industry, culture, and education. The remarks came on the sidelines of the Korea Education Fair held in New Delhi.

Ambassador's Assessment of the Partnership

'We are building and expanding very rapidly. This is one of the most promising relationships in the 21st century, I believe. Politically, economically, industrially, culturally, education — in everything — we are becoming much, much closer. I am very excited about this relationship,' Lee Seong-ho said.

The envoy's remarks signal growing momentum in a bilateral relationship that has been formally structured since 1973, when India and South Korea first established diplomatic ties. The relationship was upgraded to a 'Strategic Partnership' in 2010 and further elevated to a 'Special Strategic Partnership' during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State visit to South Korea in 2015. Both countries marked 50 years of diplomatic ties in 2023.

Praise for PM Modi's Leadership

Ambassador Lee described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a key facilitator of the deepening India-South Korea relationship. 'He is a great leader, respected by the whole world, I believe. And, he is the facilitator who is bringing our relationship very closer. We rely upon his wonderful leadership,' he said.

Prime Minister Modi is set to complete 25 years in public service in October. He has served as Prime Minister since 26 May 2014 and is currently in his third term, making him India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister. Before that, he served as Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014.

Korea Education Fair: A New Bridge

The Korea Education Fair in New Delhi was described by the Ambassador as a 'historical milestone' in the bilateral relationship and the beginning of a sustained educational bridge between the two nations. 'This is the very beginning of the Korean Education Fair in India. I believe this is the first, but not the last of course. We will continue to build and expand our educational bridge between Korea and India,' Lee said.

According to official statements, the fair was organised not merely as a student recruitment drive but as a platform to demonstrate that studying in South Korea opens genuine academic, professional, and global opportunities. Students, the Ambassador stressed, are the ones who will carry the partnership and friendship forward.

Why This Partnership Matters

India and South Korea share complementary economic profiles — India's large and growing consumer base and skilled workforce align with South Korea's technology and manufacturing strengths. Korean conglomerates including Samsung and Hyundai have a deep footprint in India, while Indian IT and pharmaceutical firms have expanded into the Korean market. The education cooperation now being formalised adds a long-term, people-to-people dimension to what has traditionally been a trade and investment-led relationship.

Notably, this deepening comes at a time when both countries are recalibrating their strategic alignments in the Indo-Pacific, a region increasingly defined by geopolitical competition. All eyes will now be on whether the 'Special Strategic Partnership' is given a further institutional upgrade in the near term.