Lee Jae Myung was accorded a ceremonial welcome on Monday at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital. Droupadi Murmu and Narendra Modi were present at the ceremony, where the South Korean leader was accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea Kyung. Following the reception, President Lee is scheduled to visit Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.

Arriving in the capital on Sunday for a three-day visit—his country’s first such high-level trip to India in over eight years—Lee met members of the Korean community and highlighted that the upcoming India–Korea summit could be a defining moment for bilateral relations. He expressed that the meeting has the potential to elevate ties to a new level.

Emphasising India’s growing global importance, Lee noted that the country has evolved beyond being just a consumer market and now plays a crucial role in global manufacturing and supply chains. His visit reflects Seoul’s intent to deepen engagement with South Asia, particularly as India strengthens its position as a major hub for production and logistics. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit marks a significant step forward in strengthening the India–South Korea Special Strategic Partnership. Since taking office in June 2025, Lee has begun his engagements with a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The highlight of the visit will be the bilateral summit between Lee and Modi at Hyderabad House, where discussions are expected to focus on cooperation in areas such as semiconductors, defence manufacturing, and green energy. Trade relations, including the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, will also be on the agenda. A joint press statement is expected after the talks outlining future collaboration.

President Lee will also attend a business forum at Bharat Mandapam and later meet President Murmu. The visit builds on a decade of growing ties since India and South Korea upgraded their relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership in 2015, with cooperation expanding across infrastructure, technology, and manufacturing sectors.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Youtube@NarendraModi.