Speaking at the Korean Night 2015 held in the capital, Korean Ambassador CHO Hyun divulged that a MoU between the two nations has been recently inked, increasing the number of flights per week to 19 from existing six. He opines that with better connectivity and more exposure, time was ripe for the next big leap in the relations between the two nations linked by a shared past and sacred thread of Buddhism.
Invoking the age-old relations cemented by matrimonial ties between Princess of Ayodhya and the Korean Prince, Korean Ambassador called it the most opportune time to take the bilateral ties to the next pedestal. Praising the Modi government for its pro-active engagement with the wider world, he said that business-friendly governments at both ends will ensure that movement of people and services reaches a new peak. “I am happy to share that we have reached an understanding on a long-pending demand of increasing the number of direct flights from India to Korea. Coming January we are going to have 19 flights every week as compared to six,” he shared with the gathering. Pointing towards the fact that more connectivity meant more business and increased volumes of trade, he said that times were most exciting for both the nations and it was up to the business community, of both countries, to tap this unprecedented opportunity.
Calling Korea an important partner in India’s key undertakings like the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ campaigns, he believed that India was about to take-off . “The elephant is about to launch itself,” he quipped. “This essentially means that an already substantial middle-class is going to grow further – which will make India a key market for trade and commerce,” he added.
Inviting more Indians to visit Korean peninsula, he mentioned that it was unique in the sense that besides being an unknown destination to a vast majority, it was also known because of its world-famed companies like Samsung and LG that had huge stakes in the sub-continent. “Korean companies are household names in India, they know us; now, we want Indians to get a first-hand feel of what we have to offer as a nation and a destination,” he said.
He believed that tourism was one of the most important mutual engagements that had plenty in it to be explored. Terming India a fascinating destination, he said that he was mesmerized at its enormity, history and culture. He also made a reference to Indian intervention in the Korean Peninsula in the war that engulfed the Far East in the 1950’s. “More than 7,000 Indians came to our shores and helped us in a time of crisis. We also remember them as we look ahead towards a bright future,” he said.
Calling Buddhism a shared treasure, he acknowledged that while India was the cradle of Buddhism, one-fifth of Korean population also followed it. “You will find that Buddhism is an important component of our wider connect. It is, therefore, important to note that we share a lot more than we think we do,” said the Korean Ambassador. He further noted that now it was up to the tourism fraternity to establish these links giving impetus to bilateral movement and trade.
