The “All India Research Scholars Seminar on Korea,” which is organized by the Researchers’ Association for the Study of Korea (RASK) in India, testifies to the fast-growing relations between India and Korea, along with a growing awareness of Korea among the Indian people. The Korea Foundation has extended support to the annual seminar since 2007.

Expanding Partnership Relations

The 5th ”All India Research Scholars Seminar on Korea” was held at the University of Delhi on February 18-19, under the auspices of the Researchers’ Association for the Study of Korea (RASK), based on the theme “The Korea-India Relationship for Mutual Development.” At the opening ceremony, RASK President Romita Devi gave a welcoming address, while I presented an overview of the association’s activities.
Then, Vivek Suneja, pro-vice chancellor of the University of Delhi, and Han Poong-woo, councilor at the Embassy of Korea in India, delivered congratulatory messages, and Prof. Madhu Bhalla, head of the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Delhi, made a keynote speech. In his address, Prof. Bhalla said that India’s interest in Korean politics, economy, and culture is now higher than ever, and it is thus timely for young Indian scholars to step up their research about Korea.

The opening ceremony was attended by some 70 young Indian scholars from Delhi, Varanasi, Lucknow, and Bengaluru, attesting to the rising awareness of Korea among the Indian people. At the seminar, Shri Shashank, former Indian ambassador to Korea and vice foreign secretary of India, also delivered a special lecture. According to him, Indian scholars, who had focused on research related to Japan and China, are now paying greater attention to Korea, which has emerged as an important economic and political partner for India’s future growth.

Diverse Aspects of Korea

The seminar dealt with diverse aspects of Korean Studies; the first day was dedicated to international relations, economy and trade, and society, and the second day to Korea’s history, environment, language and culture, and national security. In particular, a presentation attracted keen attention by contending that Korea’s enhanced status in the international community, after hosting the G20 summit, and its strengthened global competitiveness, together with India’s rapid economic development are playing a crucial role in advancing the mutual interests of both countries.
There was also a presentation that explained how the mural tombs of the Goguryeo Dynasty in Manchuria were part of ancient Korean history through archaeological examinations. Another paper compared the Korean language with the Hindi and Manipur languages. There were presentations that compared Korea’s politics and cultural contents, as well as its economic development, with those of India, demonstrating that Indians are showing an increasing interest in Korean Studies.

Heightened Presence of Korean Studies

The seminar has been held annually since 2007 with support from the Korea Foundation. Typically held in February, it brings together young scholars from across India, with 26 papers presented in the first year, 27 in the second year, and 37 this year, reflecting the widening scope of Korean research among scholars in India.
In 2008, a compilation of the papers presented at the seminar was published under the title “India-Korea: Bridging the Gap.” The presenters, mostly in their late 20s and early 40s, include assistant professors, full-time or part-time lecturers, and graduate students at various Indian universities. Their research cover diverse disciplines including the human sciences, social sciences, and the environment.

This year’s event was participated by representatives of the University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, Ambedkar University at Lucknow, Manipur University, and Bangalore University. This revealed a trend that participating universities now include institutions from across the entire country, as compared to the previous concentration in the northern region of India. The Researchers’ Association for the Study of Korea, which was founded in 2007 by a group of young Indian scholars, has grown into an organization of close-knit scholars who are well-versed in Korean affairs. The RASK is fast becoming a major research group, comparable to those related to Japan and China.

Kim Do-young Visiting Professor
University of Delhi, India