3 Key Takeaways from President Yoon’s Historic Visit to India: Strengthening Ties and Economic Opportunities

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President Lee Jae‑myung and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintained a consistently friendly tone from the official welcome through their expanded talks, marking their third face‑to‑face meeting. They underscored personal ties and bilateral bonds, drawing on shared narratives of overcoming childhood adversity.

When President Lee arrived at the presidential palace in New Delhi on the 20th (local time) and stepped out of his car, Prime Minister Modi—who had been waiting—approached and greeted him with a smile. Afterwards, the two leaders planted an Ashoka tree together in the guesthouse garden. Ashoka is commonly understood as meaning “peace” in Sanskrit.

At a business forum attended by corporate leaders from both countries, President Lee invoked the ancient tale of Queen Heo Hwang‑ok to symbolize historic ties between Korea and India. He said, “When Queen Heo’s ship faced violent waves, the Pasa stone stupa calmed the sea and cleared the way. Had she abandoned the voyage out of fear, that connection would never have begun.” He continued, “That bond has endured for more than 2,000 years, and today Korean companies such as Hyundai Motor, Samsung Electronics and LG have put down deep roots in the daily lives of the Indian people. I hope we will build many more Pasa stone stupas going forward.”

This meeting was the leaders’ third in‑person encounter. President Lee first exchanged greetings with Prime Minister Modi at the G7 summit in Canada last June and subsequently held a separate meeting with him at the G20 summit in South Africa that November.

President Lee’s state visit—the first by a South Korean president to India in eight years—also reflects the close personal rapport between the two leaders. The visit followed an invitation from Prime Minister Modi and represents the shortest interval between a new administration taking office and arranging a state visit. In an interview with local Indian media released that day, President Lee said, “From the moment I first met Prime Minister Modi in Canada last June, I felt the warmth and pleasure of meeting a long‑time friend again.”

A selfie taken by Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae‑yong at a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Modi also drew attention. Samsung’s newsroom released the original selfie, showing the chairman using a Galaxy Z Flip7 produced at the Noida factory in India. Samsung has manufactured phones in Noida since 1996 and produces all of its flagship and entry‑level models there, including foldables. The company said this contributes to the Indian government’s Make in India initiative. In his interview with local media, President Lee also emphasized the vision of “Make in India, Together with Korea.”