PM Modi welcomes South Korean President Lee Jae-myung with ceremonial honours

New Delhi: India extended a formal red-carpet reception to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Monday, initiating a high-profile state visit focused on fortifying industrial and technological ties amid deepening global economic volatility.

President Lee, making his inaugural trip to India, highlighted the urgency of the bilateral relationship in a social media statement, noting that "amidst ongoing supply chain instability and a global economic crisis stemming from the aftermath of the Middle East conflict, the Republic of Korea and India are emerging as increasingly vital strategic partners for one another."

The diplomatic itinerary began with a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt, where Lee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood together as Indian troops paraded past. The reception included a display of welcome by children in traditional dress, waving the national flags of both republics.

Technological and Maritime Cooperation

The summit comes at a critical juncture for Seoul, which has faced significant energy supply risks since U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran in late February led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

To mitigate these pressures, the two leaders are expected to engage in extensive discussions covering "shipbuilding, trade, investments, AI, semiconductors, critical and emerging technologies," according to India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

In addition to industrial cooperation, the leaders will address regional security. South Korea's National Security Adviser, Wi Sung-lac, stated in Seoul that the talks would include "continuing constructive cooperation for the sake of peace on the Korean Peninsula and within the region."

Economic Foundations and Tributes

The visit aims to revitalise a 2010 economic partnership agreement. Bilateral trade has seen a robust trajectory, nearly doubling from $14.2 billion at the time of the pact's implementation to $26.89 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Following the ceremonial reception, President Lee and First Lady Kim Hea-kyung visited Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. The couple laid a wreath at the memorial, a gesture the MEA described as a significant mark of respect that underscores the "ancient civilisational ties and shared values of democracy and the rule of law" between the two nations.

Diplomatic Milestone

The South Korean delegation arrived in the capital on Sunday and was received by Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra. The MEA characterised the visit as an "important milestone" in advancing the "Special Strategic Partnership" between the countries.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who met with the president on Sunday, expressed that he was "honoured to call on President Lee Jae-myung... as he begins his State Visit to India." Jaishankar added that he "values his commitment to deepen India-Korea relations across multiple domains."

The state visit follows a year of increased engagement, including two meetings between Modi and Lee in 2025 on the sidelines of the G20 and G7 summits. Later today, Prime Minister Modi will host a luncheon for the visiting dignitary, followed by a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

With inputs from ANI