30th July is “International Friendship Day” designated by UN. We, Korean Cultural Centre India wants to celebrate this day with our friend country, India.

For two countries holding cultural values in high regard, our friendship is sacred and set in stones since past for years to come. India and Korea’s historical connection have roots in the Korean historical record, ‘Samguk Yusa’.

Princess Huh Hwang-ok of Ayuta (speculated to be Ayodhya, India) set sail for a three-month journey, using special stones to calm the waters on her way. She landed safely on the shores of the Gaya Kingdom and married King Suro of the Geumgwan. According to legend, they gave birth to ten sons and two daughters, who went on to continue the Gimhae Kim and Huh family line, which make about 5 million citizens of the Korean republic.

 “We are cousins” proclaimed former Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.

During a visit to South Korea in 2012, Gursharan Kaur, wife of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, inquired about the number of Indians living in Korea. “Seven to eight thousand,” was the answer Indian Ambassador Vishnu Prakash gave her. But then-South Korean President Lee Myung-bak’s wife, Kim Yoon-ok, gave a much higher number, saying that it was actually 5 million. Ms. Kim, herself, claimed to be one of them considering the Indian princess as the mother of many Koreans today.

There have been many efforts like 'Friendship Cooperation Agreement’, 'Seoul-India Economic Exchange’, ‘Act East Policy’, The new ‘Gyeongnam MICE’ for Indian markets and the ‘Indo-Korean Park to bridge cultural gaps between the two countries as a way for mutual development in political and economic spheres seemingly stems from the desire to embrace international connection through an ancient tale and carry on the legacy for generations to come.

For promoting these two countries` long friendship, we Korean Cultural Centre India has been working hard, and even we are presenting special events this year like “India-Korea Friendship Quiz, K-pop Contests, Special online exhibition, <60 Para Field Ambulance> for commemorating Indian`s participation to Korean War on the 71st Anniversary of the war.