Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 responded to congratulatory wishes from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, reaffirming India's commitment to deepening its Special Strategic Partnership with South Korea and expressing confidence that bilateral cooperation would reach new heights.

In his reply posted on X, Modi wrote in Hindi: 'माननीय राष्ट्रपति ली जे-म्युंग जी, आपकी शुभकामनाओं के लिए बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद' ('Honourable President Lee Jae-myung, thank you very much for your good wishes'). He added that India values its special partnership with South Korea greatly and that the two nations would together take cooperation to new heights.

Context

The exchange follows a message of goodwill from President Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, directed at Prime Minister Modi. Such diplomatic exchanges between heads of government typically signal the health of a bilateral relationship and often precede more substantive engagement. The specific occasion prompting Lee's original message has not been officially confirmed.

Policy Backdrop

India and South Korea share a relationship that was formally elevated to a Special Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Seoul in 2015. The two countries had earlier signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2010, which liberalised bilateral trade and investment flows. In recent years, defence co-production, semiconductor cooperation and people-to-people ties have emerged as consistent pillars of the partnership.

India's engagement with South Korea sits within the broader framework of its Act East Policy, which seeks to deepen economic and security links with East and Southeast Asian nations. This outreach runs parallel to similar deepening of ties with Japan, Vietnam and ASEAN members, with a shared goal of strengthening Indo-Pacific supply chains and diversifying strategic partnerships.

Stakeholders and Impact

Indian exporters, defence manufacturers and technology firms stand to benefit most directly from a reinvigorated India-South Korea relationship. South Korea's strengths in semiconductors, shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing complement India's growing ambitions in electronics production and defence indigenisation. People-to-people ties, including the Indian diaspora in South Korea and Korean investment communities in India, also have a stake in sustained high-level diplomatic warmth.

For South Korea, India represents a large and fast-growing market as well as a potential manufacturing partner at a time when global supply chains are being restructured. The Special Strategic Partnership framework provides institutional channels for both sides to advance shared interests in the Indo-Pacific.

What's Next

Diplomatic observers will watch for whether this exchange of goodwill translates into concrete deliverables, including a possible review of the CEPA, proposed high-level visits, or new announcements on defence manufacturing collaboration. India has consistently used such diplomatic moments to lay groundwork for structured bilateral dialogue. The tone of Prime Minister Modi's response — emphasising partnership and forward momentum — suggests New Delhi views the relationship with Seoul as a priority lane within its Indo-Pacific strategy.