Jaishankar Calls for Stronger India-South Korea Cooperation

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered the keynote address at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity 2026 in Jeju, South Korea, on 25 June 2026. He also held bilateral talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Seoul on 24 June 2026 during a two-day visit to South Korea.

India-South Korea Bilateral Relations

India and South Korea maintain diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties through cooperation in trade, investment, technology, defence, and culture. South Korea is a major partner for India in shipbuilding, electronics, and industrial manufacturing, while India is a large market for South Korean companies in automobiles, consumer electronics, and infrastructure.

Areas of Cooperation Discussed

The Seoul discussions covered political ties, shipbuilding, trade, investments, defence, technology, clean energy, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Emerging sectors such as startups and fintech were also part of the bilateral agenda. Jaishankar referred to complementarities between the two countries “from ships to chips”. The phrase linked shipbuilding, digital technology, and advanced manufacturing with wider industrial cooperation.

Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity

The Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity is an annual international forum held in Jeju, South Korea. It brings together political leaders, diplomats, academics, and policy experts to discuss peace, security, and regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Jeju Island is a South Korean province and a frequent venue for international conferences and diplomatic meetings. The forum has been used for discussions on multilateralism, regional stability, and global governance.

Five Priorities for Global Cooperation

Jaishankar outlined five priorities for global cooperation in a fragmented world. These priorities included resilient supply chains, stronger partnerships, reformed multilateralism, and greater support for the Global South. Reformed multilateralism refers to changes in global institutions such as the United Nations and other international bodies. The Global South generally refers to developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Important Facts for Exams

• S. Jaishankar is India’s External Affairs Minister and a former Indian Foreign Service officer.
• Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity is held in Jeju, South Korea.
• Shipbuilding is a major industrial sector in South Korea.
• Fintech is a contraction of financial technology and covers digital financial services.

India and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1973. The two countries are members of the G20 and cooperate in the Indo-Pacific region.