From ancient legend to K-pop: Modi highlights India-Korea connect

Narendra Modi highlighted ancient India–South Korea ties through the legend of Queen Heo Hwang-ok, alongside modern cultural exchanges, as both nations expanded cooperation in creative industries during talks with President Lee Jae Myung

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday invoked the legend of Ayodhya princess, Suriratna, and Korean king Kim Suro to emphasise the ancient cultural links between India and South Korea.

In his remarks at a joint press meet after wide-ranging talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Hyderabad House here, Modi said K-pop and K-drama are becoming very popular in India today, and similarly, in South Korea, Indian cinema and culture are getting more recognised. “The story of Princess Suriratna of Ayodhya and King Kim Suro of Korea, dating back two millennia, is a part of our shared heritage,” he said.

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The official website of ‘Incredible India’ carries a descriptive piece on this ancient cultural link. In her adopted land in Korea, she was known as Queen Heo Hwang-ok, and a memorial to her, built in 2001 through a collaborative effort between the Uttar Pradesh government and South Korea’s Gimhae city, stands as a living testament to the enduring bonds forged by Queen Heo Hwang-ok’s legendary journey.

“As chronicled in the venerable Korean text Samguk Yusa, this daughter of Ayodhya — known in her adopted land as Queen Heo Hwang-ok, embarked on a perilous sea voyage guided by divine decree,” reads the piece on the ‘Incredible India’ website.

“The Gods themselves, it is said, orchestrated her union with King Kim Suro of the Karak Clan, making her the first queen of Geumgwan Gaya. This ethereal command, delivered through dreams, set in motion a remarkable saga of cross-cultural unity, forever intertwining the destinies of Ayodhya and Korea in a tale of shared heritage and royal legacy,” it adds.
Many members of the Karak clan visit Ayodhya every year to pay tribute at the Queen Heo Memorial Park, which was set up on the banks of Sarayu river in the holy city.

“When you stand in front of the Memorial of Heo Hwang-ok, you are transported to an era of legendary unions and transcontinental journeys. This serene sanctuary pays homage to a remarkable tale that spans centuries and continents. Legend speaks of Princess Suriratna, a young maiden whose extraordinary journey from the banks of the Sarayu to the shores of Korea would forever alter the course of history,” the piece reads. In November 2018, the then First Lady Kim Jung-sook visited Ayodhya and celebrated Diwali in the holy city. Kim had begun her tour of Ayodhya by offering tributes at the Queen Heo Memorial.

Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, she attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the upgrade and beautification of the memorial dedicated to the legendary Ayodhya princess, who went to Korea and married the king there in 48 AD.

On Monday, India and South Korea also signed several MoUs, including on cooperation in cultural and creative industries, in the presence of the two leaders. “In culture and creative industry, through mutual cooperation, we will establish new avenues in areas of film, animation, and in gaming too,” Modi said.

“We are delighted that President Lee himself is an admirer of Indian cinema. To further strengthen this cultural connect, we will organise the India-Korea Friendship Festival in 2028,” he said. He added that to boost people-to-people ties, education, research cooperation and tourism will be promoted. “We are laying the foundation stone of the success stories of the next decade.”