"Koreans more interested in India's culture": Ambassador Lee Seong-ho on growing India-South Korea ties
New Delhi, June 29
As cultural exchanges between India and South Korea continue to flourish, South Korean Ambassador to India Lee Seong-ho has underscored the growing role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening bilateral ties.
Speaking to ANI, Lee Seong-ho acknowledged the rising popularity of K-culture and Bollywood as a bridge connecting the people of both nations.
"Cultural diplomacy, soft power diplomacy, is becoming ever more important in this era. Culture, soft power, is the main medium through which people from both countries can understand each other. I'm very glad to observe the growing interest in Korean culture in India... we are more than willing to encourage this exchange in this mutually beneficial manner, but it doesn't have to be one-way traffic," he said.
The ambassador also highlighted that South Koreans are embracing Indian culture with growing interest. From yoga becoming a popular family activity to the rising appeal of Indian cuisine and Bollywood films, cultural engagement between the two countries is expanding in both directions, he explained.
"Koreans are also becoming more interested in knowing India's culture. Yoga has already become a family hobby... Indian cuisine and movies are becoming more popular... it is already two-way traffic, and it is the best way to bring our two countries very closely together," Lee continued.
Emphasising the role of governments in facilitating cultural exchange, the ambassador said both India and South Korea recognise its value.
"We, as countries and governments, clearly recognise the importance of further boosting this cultural exchange, and we will keep doing so," he added.
The remarks come at a time when Ambassador Lee Seong-ho opened up about how South Korea is looking forward to deepening its economic and strategic engagement with India, with a fresh push for investments in shipbuilding, defence manufacturing and industrial collaboration.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm a huge K-drama fan, and I've noticed more Koreans on social media trying Indian food and wearing sarees. It's wonderful that it's becoming two-way. But I hope we also push for deeper economic ties—like more Korean investment in Indian manufacturing and tech. Cultural love is great, but shared prosperity matters too.
Ambassador Lee's remark about "two-way traffic" is refreshing. Too often, we only hear about K-pop and K-dramas in India, but rarely about Indians—or Indian culture—in Korea. Good to know yoga and Indian cuisine are catching on there. Let's keep this exchange genuine, not just commercialized. Bhai, we need more people learning each other's languages too!
I visited Seoul last year for work. The number of Indians there is growing, and I saw Korean families doing yoga in parks—it was beautiful. But on the flip side, let's be honest: India must do more to make it easier for Koreans to visit or invest here. Visa hassle is still a problem. Cultural exchange is nice, but logistics matter. 😊
As someone who lived in both countries, I see this as a genuine win-win. K-culture gives Indians global exposure, and Indian cuisine and spirituality offer deep value to Koreans. But cultural exchange alone won't solve core issues like trade imbalances. Let's leverage this goodwill to push for more Korean partnerships in Indian defense and tech sectors. 🇮🇳+🇰🇷=🤝
I attended a Korean cultural fest
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.