Arriving in India for a state visit, South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung said Korea and India should work together as emerging global leaders amid growing geopolitical uncertainty, and the two countries can give a new direction to multilateralism in the face of growing challenges. In an exclusive interview with times of IndiaLee said that while Korea has exemplified remarkable economic growth under the multilateral trading system, India with its economic scale and dynamism is well-positioned to shape new global norms. On China’s dominance in critical minerals, Lee said reducing excessive dependence on any one country has become a matter of survival, which is directly linked to the economic security of both India and South Korea. Speaking on the Hormuz crisis, the President said that ensuring the security of vital sea lanes is essential for the survival of both countries and Korea will work together to ensure freedom of navigation in the key energy waterway. Now focusing on defense industrial cooperation, the President said Seoul will fully support India’s “independent production” of defense equipment while exploring joint technology development and co-production. In an exclusive interview with Sachin Parashar and Alpyu Singh, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shared his vision for a special strategic partnership with India in key sectors such as trade, technology, critical minerals, defense and shipbuilding, in which Seoul is a global leader. Part: This is your first visit to India as President. Under the current circumstances, how do you hope to further strengthen the Special Strategic Partnership with India, especially in key areas such as trade and critical and emerging technologies? India – the world’s most populous country, fourth largest economy and a leading voice of the Global South – is an ideal partner for the Republic of Korea. Our partnership is based not only on highly complementary economies, but also on shared core values ​​of democracy and market economy. At a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty and growing challenges to multilateralism, it is more urgent than ever that Korea and India work together as emerging global leaders. Taking forward our Special Strategic Partnership, we will expand our strategic horizons and deepen comprehensive ties of cooperation that will foster mutual development and innovation. A key priority is to accelerate negotiations to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Beyond traditional sectors such as electronics and automobiles, we will expand cooperation in shipbuilding, finance and defense industries, realizing the vision of “Make in India, Together with Korea”. We will also increase cooperation in AI and digital technologies. Korea’s world-class AI infrastructure and India’s vast pool of AI talent make us natural partners. Together, we will proactively identify projects that create meaningful synergy. At the same time, we will further expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, which are the enduring foundation of our relationship. By bringing together India’s rich cultural assets, exemplified by Bollywood, and Korea’s globally influential K-culture, we aim to create even greater synergy. Since my first meeting with PM Modi in Canada in June last year, I have felt genuine warmth and closeness, as if reconnecting with an old friend. I believe in our shared commitment to people-centric politics, maintaining hope even in adverse circumstances. So it is especially meaningful and a great pleasure for me to come to India and meet PM Modi again. I am confident that this visit will prove to be an important milestone in further strengthening the friendship and trust between our two countries. Like India, South Korea is also heavily dependent on the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz for its energy needs. How can the two countries work together to help efforts to keep key energy pathways open and mitigate the impact of the Middle East crisis on the global economy and energy security, as well as de-risk supply chains globally? Both the Republic of Korea and India depend on the Middle East for a significant portion of their energy supplies, including crude oil and natural gas. Accordingly, ensuring the security of vital sea lanes is essential to the security of our people and the survival of our nations. Korea will maintain close communication with India to ensure that all ships can sail safely and freely in the Strait of Hormuz. We will also continue to work together in relevant international forums to maintain this shared commitment. Another thing our two countries should do together is diversifying energy supply chains. Amid growing uncertainties in the global economy, I am confident that visionary and strategic cooperation between Korea and India can significantly advance our shared national interests. Co-production of K9 Vajra howitzers strengthens the strategic defense partnership. How do you propose to take this partnership forward, especially in terms of technology-sharing that can boost India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative? The Republic of Korea fully supports India’s Self-reliant India initiative. This is a plan with significant industrial and economic potential and I am confident that it will definitely be realized thanks to the strong commitment of PM Modi.However, self-reliance is difficult to achieve completely on your own. Korea’s rapid industrial development and economic growth was possible with substantial support and assistance from partner countries. In this regard, Korea wishes to work as a key partner of India in pursuing the Self-reliant India initiative. In particular, the K9 Vajra howitzer project is an exemplary example of our bilateral defense and defense industry cooperation. The contract for the second phase of the K9 Vajra project, signed in April last year, provides for more than 60 percent of the manufacturing process to be done in India. According to the plan, it is currently being implemented smoothly. Building on such examples of cooperation, Korea will continue to provide full support to India’s independent production and operation of defense equipment. Furthermore, we will discuss various ways of cooperation in joint technology development and co-production as well as operations and maintenance, so that the defense industry ecosystem of both the countries can move forward together. The two countries are exploring opportunities for cooperation in critical energy transition minerals – amid global efforts for resource diversification to avoid dependence on China – and also in sectors such as maritime and shipbuilding in which South Korea is a global leader. Do you have any roadmap in mind for more result-oriented partnerships in these areas? In an era of restructuring of global supply chains, reducing excessive dependence on any one country has become a matter of survival, which is directly linked to the economic security of both countries. In particular, securing critical minerals, which are essential for cutting-edge industries, and stabilizing maritime logistics networks for those resources will be key factors in national competitiveness going forward. India has the critical minerals, while Korea has the capacity to make them into rechargeable batteries, electric vehicles and other advanced products. This makes both our countries ideal partners to generate synergy. By moving beyond the traditional model of raw material imports and combining Korea’s technology with India’s mining and refining industries, we can work together to establish stable critical-mineral supply chains. There is also immense potential for bilateral cooperation in the shipping and shipbuilding sectors. It is essential to secure shipbuilding and maritime transportation capabilities for India to emerge as a global logistics and manufacturing hub. With world-class expertise in shipbuilding and shipping as well as extensive experience in overseas port projects, Korea is well positioned to become India’s leading partner. I understand that relevant MoUs are expected to be signed during the upcoming visit. I look forward to the day when ships built jointly by our two countries will ply the world’s oceans. Now that America’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific has been questioned under President trump – And with Washington’s focus also on West Asia – how do you propose to work with like-minded countries to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific? The world today is facing complex and multi-layered crises. We are in a time of profound turmoil, as rising protectionism and the restructuring of global supply chains destabilize the foundations of the existing international order. The war in the Middle East has underlined the strategic reality that the Indian and Pacific Oceans form a single, interconnected maritime domain – the stability of which no single country can secure alone. Despite its profound dynamism and immense potential, the Indo-Pacific has long remained more a beneficiary than a shaper of the international order due to geopolitical tensions and a lack of institutional framework. However, today, regional countries, including Korea, have the potential to take the lead in strengthening multilateralism and advancing the rules-based order.
