Pune, Nov 30: The King Sejong Foundation, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism of the Republic of Korea, took a significant step in fortifying the ties between India and Korea by inaugurating the King Sejong Institute at the Indo-Korean Centre in Pune.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Tuesday evening, was graced by the presence of Ambassador Chang Jae-bok, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, and Kim Young-og, the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Mumbai. Sanjib Ghatak, founder of the Indo-Korean Centre, Dr. Eunjoo Lim (director of IKC King Sejong Institute Pune), and Dr. Pradip Bavadekar (chairman & managing trustee of Youthbuild Foundation) also attended the event.
The primary objective of the King Sejong Institute is to provide Korean language education to Indian students who aspire to work in Korean companies, according to a press release.
Ambassador Chang Jae Bok, in his address, highlighted the significant growth in bilateral trade between India and Korea, reaching 28 billion US dollars in 2022 from 400 million dollars a few years ago. He noted the success of Korean companies like POSCO and LG Electronics, contributing to increased employment opportunities.
Learning the Korean language has become a valuable skill for those seeking employment opportunities in Korean companies, Ambassador Bok emphasized. He discussed strategies to promote Korean language education and Korean studies across different regions of India, expressing his commitment to enhancing educational ties between Korea and India.
Dr. Pradip Bavdekar and Sanjib Ghatak also shared insights into the Indo-Korean Centre’s role in fostering relations between the two countries. The ceremony underscored a shared vision for further strengthening mutual relations in various domains between India and Korea. Ambassador Bok expressed optimism about the Institute becoming a key center for fostering Korea-India relations.
Looking ahead, there is a commitment to continue enhancing mutual relations, as expressed by the representatives of both countries at the event.
