Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Seoul on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, delivering opening remarks at the bilateral meeting between the two nations. The meeting marks a significant diplomatic engagement between India and South Korea under India's Act East Policy framework.

Context

Dr. Jaishankar shared his opening remarks from the meeting with FM Cho Hyun of the Republic of Korea (RoK) directly on social media, signalling the high-profile nature of the engagement. The bilateral meeting in Seoul is part of India's sustained diplomatic outreach to key Indo-Pacific partners. Both nations have maintained robust ties anchored in trade, defence cooperation and technology exchange.

India and South Korea share a relationship that has deepened considerably over the past two decades. The two countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2009, laying a strong foundation for economic cooperation. Ties were further elevated to a Special Strategic Partnership in 2015, reflecting the growing strategic convergence between New Delhi and Seoul.

Policy Backdrop

India's engagement with South Korea sits firmly within the ambit of its Act East Policy, which prioritises deepening ties with East and Southeast Asian nations. South Korea is a critical node in India's strategy to diversify supply chains, particularly in sectors such as semiconductors, shipbuilding, automobiles and advanced manufacturing. These sectors represent areas where Korean industry holds global leadership and Indian demand continues to grow.

Bilateral meetings at the foreign minister level serve as important mechanisms to review the health of the Special Strategic Partnership and set the agenda for upcoming summits and multilateral engagements. The Indo-Pacific theatre, including forums such as the East Asia Summit, provides additional multilateral context to the India-South Korea relationship. India has consistently sought to complement its Quad and ASEAN engagements with robust bilateral ties with middle powers like South Korea.

Stakeholders and Impact

The meeting holds direct relevance for trade businesses, defence manufacturers and technology firms operating across both countries. Indian and Korean companies have increasingly explored co-development opportunities in defence platforms and critical technology supply chains. People-to-people exchanges, including student mobility and cultural ties, also form a consistent pillar of the bilateral agenda.

For Indian industry, South Korea represents a key partner in accessing advanced manufacturing know-how and capital investment. For Seoul, India's large and growing market, combined with its strategic geography, makes the partnership valuable from both economic and geopolitical standpoints. Both governments have an interest in ensuring the CEPA framework continues to deliver tangible commercial benefits.

What's Next

Diplomatic observers will watch closely for any announcements of new memoranda of understanding or joint statements emerging from the Seoul meeting. High-level visits and potential summit-level engagement — including on the sidelines of multilateral forums such as the East Asia Summit — could follow as a natural next step. The outcomes of Dr. Jaishankar's visit are expected to shape the trajectory of India-South Korea ties in the near term, particularly on the economic and technology cooperation fronts.