South Korean companies eyeing India as Trump’s China tariffs sting: Deputy Ambassador Special world News

South Korea is still dealing with the political turmoil that followed the December 2024 martial law standoff, an unprecedented moment in which ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to seize power for the last time and triggered a wave of impeachments. The episode exposed simmering polarization, but also the strength of citizen mobilization and the resilience of the country’s democratic institutions.

During an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, South Korea’s Deputy Ambassador Sang-Woo Lim explained how the bipartisan consensus on relations with India in Seoul remains strong despite the unrest. They talked about the next big opportunities in trade, technology and security, the impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariff regime on Asian supply chains and Seoul’s strong condemnation of the Delhi terror attack.

He also reflected on his time in India, including his unusual stint as a weekend museum guide, and the moments he will take home.

Lim broke the usual diplomatic reticence to talk about sensitive domestic issues, reflecting on the state of South Korea’s democracy, the “citizen-led liberation” that led to the withdrawal of martial law, and how he plans to shape Seoul’s global messaging after taking over as vice minister for public diplomacy.

Here are edited excerpts from the interview:

Q: It’s been a year since Seoul’s December 2024 martial law crisis, which was initiated by ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, resulted in a wave of impeachments. Since that turmoil exposed intense political polarization, do you see any challenges to continuity in South Korea-India foreign policy under the new Lee Jae Myung administration?

Sang-woo Lim: There is a strong bipartisan consensus in Korea on the need to deepen our relations with India. The new Lee Jae-Myung administration has already shown a clear commitment to strengthening this partnership. Within two weeks of taking office, President Lee met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada on June 17. Shortly afterwards, a presidential envoy visited India and met the Prime Minister again. This was followed by the visit of our new Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who previously served as Ambassador to India. And just last month, President Lee and Prime Minister Modi held another meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa.

Q: As someone who will soon return to Seoul to become vice minister for public diplomacy, how do you plan to shape South Korea’s diplomatic messaging domestically and internationally, given the recent unrest?

Sang-woo Lim: Korea has long served as a model for developing countries aiming to become advanced economies. By weathering recent political turmoil with stability, we have also demonstrated the strength and resilience of our democratic system. As I return to Seoul as Deputy Minister of Public Diplomacy, my priority will be to engage broadly with partners around the world and reaffirm that Korea is fully back on the global stage. We stand ready to share the lessons we have learned, not only in economic development but also in building durable democratic institutions. We are also ready to contribute to addressing regional and global challenges by working closely with friends like India. People-centric engagement will be at the heart of my public diplomacy efforts, as citizens are the foundation of any lasting relationship between nations.

Question: As Seoul seeks to broaden its global partnerships, which concrete areas – trade, technology, culture, security – do you consider most appropriate for expanding India-South Korea relations under the current global environment?

Sang-woo Lim: Economic cooperation has been the main engine of Korea-India relations. Our bilateral trade has more than doubled over the past decade, reaching $26 billion last year, and more than 670 Korean companies now operate in India. Major companies like Hyundai, LG and Samsung have become household names. Given the current geopolitical and geoeconomic shifts, this is the right time for both our countries to launch the next wave of Korean investments in strategic sectors such as shipbuilding, semiconductors and defense industries.

I am encouraged by the momentum already building in these areas. Leading Korean shipbuilders such as HD Hyundai and Samsung Heavy Industries are deepening cooperation with Indian partners and exploring new projects in key states including Tamil Nadu.

In semiconductors, Korean companies are beginning to invest more actively in India – in particular, APACT is setting up a high-tech semiconductor assembly and test facility in Andhra Pradesh, strengthening India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem.

In the field of defense, Korea and India have signed an agreement to produce the second batch of K9-Vajra self-propelled howitzers in India this year, marking another step forward in our strategic industrial partnership.

Q: How do you assess the impact of President Trump’s new tariff regime on Asian supply chains, and do you see any potential spillover impact – positive or negative – on Korea’s economic engagement with India?

Sang-woo Lim: President Trump’s new tariff regime has had far-reaching effects on trading countries around the world. In view of this, we are seeing renewed interest in deeper economic cooperation between like-minded partners. In that sense, the current environment also provides an opportunity for Korea and India to elevate our economic partnership. One option is to accelerate ongoing discussions on upgrading the Korea-India CEPA. Also, tariffs on Chinese goods are likely to prompt more Korean companies to shift operations to India to strengthen supply-chain resilience. Most importantly, given the complementary strengths of both our economies, Korea and India can expand cooperation in emerging technologies to adapt to the rapidly changing global trade landscape.

Question: South Korea publicly condemned the Delhi blast terrorist attack. How do you think Seoul’s solidarity affects bilateral trust and future security cooperation between the two countries?

Sang-woo Lim: Korea strongly condemns all acts of terrorism. This has been our consistent position for a long time and we stand in strong solidarity with India. Our common stance has strengthened trust between our two countries and is shaping already deep cooperation in security areas, including the increasingly important area of ​​cyber security.

Question: How would you assess the state of South Korea’s democratic institutions today?

Sang-woo Lim: Korea remains a vibrant democracy, based on strong and resilient institutions. The same institutions were central to the handling of last year’s martial law crisis. He fulfilled his constitutional duties with clarity and discipline and ultimately protected our democratic system. The events of the past year have shown that our democratic system is firmly embedded in society and our institutions are fully capable of meeting challenges, even if they originate at the highest levels of government.

Q: Many describe the overturning of martial law as a “civilian-led liberation” of democracy. Does the current government see this as a turning point or merely a pause in deep structural tensions?

Sang-woo Lim: Democracy in Korea was neither imported nor something that emerged spontaneously after independence. It was built through the sacrifices of hundreds of ordinary citizens and the sustained courage of the thousands who took to the streets for decades to challenge authoritarian rule. That long struggle is why our democracy is considered almost sacred in the Korean consciousness. So when news of an unjustified martial law arrived, thousands of citizens immediately united and rushed to the National Assembly to ensure that the vote to repeal it could proceed safely.

The present Government, like the people, has full faith in the power of citizens to preserve our democracy. At the same time, the crisis has given rise to broader conversations about possible constitutional reforms, particularly how to reduce the concentration of power in the presidency so that we can prevent similar political emergencies in the future.

Q: Talking about your time in India, you have taken an unusual cultural path: volunteering as a tour guide at the National Museum on weekends. How much of this came from personal interest, and how much came from a broader cultural-diplomacy approach to strengthening India-South Korea ties?

Sang-woo Lim: I participated in a guided tour at the National Museum earlier this year and found it really captivating exploring the history and culture of India. That experience inspired me to train myself as a guide, deepen my understanding, and volunteer for Indian visitors as well as the Korean community in New Delhi. The National Museum was very kind in accommodating my unusual request. After completing rigorous training and spending extra time studying Indian history and literature at home, I started volunteering as a guide in August this year. This has been one of the most meaningful forms of cultural engagement that I have experienced during my time in India.

Q: Through your museum tours, you draw parallels between Korean and Indian mythology – for example, connecting the Korean “Dokkebi” with the Indian “Kirtimukha.” How are they similar, and do you think such shared cultural narratives could influence bilateral relations beyond soft power symbolism?

Sang-woo Lim: In my tours, I try to highlight the deep historical and cultural ties between Korea and India. At the beginning of the National Museum tour, there is a lintel featuring “Kirtimukha”, a fierce protective face that drives away evil. You can see “Kirtimukha” at the entrance of temples and even in many homes. Korea has a remarkably similar motif called “dokkebi”, which appears on traditional roof tiles as a guardian intended to protect the home from bad luck.

These shared cultural symbols remind us that Korea and India are closer than we often think, and our ties are deeper than we realize. They provide a strong foundation on which we can continue to build our relationship in the years to come.

Q: Finally, as you conclude your tenure, what are the most memorable moments of your stay in India – and any regrets?

Sang-woo Lim: There are so many memorable moments from Korea that I will take with me, but if I had to choose just one, it would be the friendships I have been blessed to make here. India welcomed me not only as a diplomat but as a friend and that is something I will always remember. In the end, it is the people who matter most, and I feel truly blessed to have spent my time in India among such wonderful friends.

One regret is that my volunteer work as a tour guide at the National Museum ended sooner than I expected. Guiding tours there became a very personal and meaningful trip for me. I sincerely hope that one day I will return to New Delhi, perhaps even for another visit to the galleries I love so deeply.