South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s three-day visit to India beginning Sunday is expected to mark a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, with a focus extending beyond trade and investment to include security cooperation, cultural exchange, and people-to-people ties.

According to a report by international magazine The Diplomat, the visit could help usher in a new phase in the India–South Korea Special Strategic Partnership in 2026, which it describes as a potentially landmark year for both nations. The report notes that sustained high-level engagement between the two countries has been limited in recent years, with the last South Korean presidential visit to India taking place in 2018 and the last Indian prime ministerial visit to South Korea in 2019.

The publication highlighted that despite growing global uncertainty, India’s strategic importance has risen significantly over the past decade. It pointed out that India has become the world’s fifth-largest economy and is projected to surpass Japan and Germany to become the third-largest economy by the end of the decade, driven by infrastructure development and liberalised foreign direct investment policies.

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The report further observed that while both India and South Korea follow multi-alignment foreign policy approaches, they have not yet fully tapped into potential synergies between them. However, it suggested that evolving global conditions are creating favourable ground for deeper convergence in areas of mutual interest, particularly as both countries navigate shifting geopolitical and economic landscapes.

It also noted that the current South Korean administration, which assumed office in June 2025, is continuing aspects of the New Southern Policy initiated under former President Moon Jae-in. This approach focuses on strengthening ties with emerging economies in Asia and reflects a broader strategic vision that includes engagement with the Global South.

In this context, India is viewed as a key partner due to its leadership role among developing economies and its expanding global influence. The report emphasised that both countries share complementary strengths that could be leveraged to enhance economic security and resilience, especially in strategic sectors such as defence manufacturing and shipbuilding. The upcoming visit is therefore expected to provide momentum for expanding cooperation in multiple areas, potentially redefining the trajectory of India–South Korea relations in the coming years.

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