South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrives for three-day state visit; ‘Special Strategic Partnership’ in focus

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived in India on Sunday for a landmark three-day state visit, the first by a South Korean leader in eight years , as both nations seek to elevate their Special Strategic Partnership through deeper cooperation in trade, defence, and cutting-edge technologies.

Lee received a warm ceremonial welcome in New Delhi , with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance . A vibrant cultural programme was organised in his honour, reflecting the spirit of the growing bilateral bond. President Murmu and her South Korean counterpart subsequently met delegations from both nations, underscoring the significance of the occasion. In a meaningful gesture, President Lee and his wife also visited Raj Ghat , paying a heartfelt tribute at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called on President Lee shortly after his arrival. In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed that he deeply valued Lee's commitment to strengthening ties across multiple domains and voiced confidence that the talks with Prime Minister Modi would further reinforce the partnership.

The two leaders held extensive delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House , covering shipbuilding, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical minerals, nuclear energy, and emerging technologies . The launch of the India-Korea Digital Bridge marked a forward-looking step in technological cooperation, while an Industrial Cooperation Committee was established to deepen economic collaboration. Both sides also signed four Memoranda of Understanding spanning sports, cultural industries, small and medium enterprise cooperation, and ports and maritime cooperation . A commemorative tree-planting ceremony was also held, symbolising the deepening roots of the bilateral relationship.

A Joint Declaration was exchanged to resume CEPA upgrade negotiations , with talks scheduled for May 2026 and a target of concluding them by the first half of 2027 . Both nations set an ambitious goal of raising bilateral trade from $27 billion to $50 billion by 2030 . As Modi declared powerfully, "India and South Korea are going to transform their trusted ties into a futuristic partnership."

Maritime security featured prominently, with Lee stressing the need to jointly safeguard vital shipping routes, including the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz , rendered even more urgent amid ongoing disruptions to global energy supplies. Lee praised India's rising stature as a leader of the Global South and called India a key partner in uncertain times .

President Murmu is set to host a state banquet in Lee's honour, fittingly rounding off a visit that signals a bold new chapter in India-South Korea relations, one built on shared ambitions, strategic alignment, and a vision for the decades ahead.