Home / Arts and Entertainment / Modi & Lee: Ancient Ties Fuel K-Pop & Bollywood Fusion
Modi & Lee: Ancient Ties Fuel K-Pop & Bollywood Fusion
20 Apr
Summary
- India and South Korea to launch a Friendship Festival from April 20 to April 28.
- A legendary princess from Ayodhya married Korean King Suro, linking both nations.
- A new Mumbai Korea Centre will blend K-pop and Bollywood cultures.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the ancient and growing relationship between India and South Korea during the maiden state visit of President Lee Jae-myung. The two leaders announced the launch of the India-Korea Friendship Festival, scheduled from April 20 to April 28, to commemorate their shared history.
This shared heritage traces back to the legendary Princess Suriratna of Ayodhya, who, according to the 13th-century chronicle Samguk Yusa, married King Kim Suro of the Gaya Kingdom in Korea. The festival aims to celebrate this deep connection, which now extends to modern cultural phenomena like K-pop and K-dramas, which are popular in India.
Further fostering bilateral cooperation, India and South Korea have agreed to establish a "Mumbai Korea Centre." This new hub is envisioned as a dynamic space for K-pop performances and a center for Korean culture, aiming to integrate elements of K-pop with the vibrant Indian film industry.
The discussions also included the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at deepening cooperation across various sectors, marking a significant step in the diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
