India Eyes Closer Ties As PM Modi Greets South Korea’s President-Elect Lee Jae-Myung

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Lee Jae-myung on his election as South Korea’s new President and expressed his intent to deepen bilateral cooperation.

Lee, the Democratic Party (DP) candidate, secured the presidency on Wednesday after a turbulent political period marked by the impeachment and removal of his predecessor, who faced backlash over a failed attempt to declare martial law.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Congratulations to Mr Lee Jae-Myung on being elected as the President of the Republic of Korea. Look forward to working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.”

Lee’s election marks a significant political comeback, following his narrow defeat to former President Yoon Suk Yeol in the 2022 polls by less than one percentage point.

Yoon’s controversial bid to impose martial law in December created political unrest and opened the path for Lee’s ascension.

However, the move also widened divisions in South Korea and intensified challenges such as US trade pressures and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

With the final results in, Lee secured 49.42 per cent of the vote, while his conservative People Power Party (PPP) opponent, Kim Moon-soo, garnered 41.15 per cent.

India and South Korea elevated their bilateral ties to a ‘Special Strategic Partnership’ in 2015 during PM Modi’s State Visit to Seoul.

During South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s visit to India in 2018, both nations adopted a joint vision statement centred on ‘People, Prosperity, Peace and our Future’.

In 2019, PM Modi returned to South Korea, unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Yonsei University, gifted a Bodhi sapling to Gimhae City, and received the Seoul Peace Prize for his efforts in global economic growth and international cooperation.

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