India - South Korea

25-Apr-2023: 11th High Level Meeting (HLM) between the Indian Coast Guard and the Korean Coast Guard held in New Delhi

The 11th High Level Meeting (HLM) between the Indian Coast Guard and the Korean Coast Guard was held today in New Delhi, on 25 April, 2023. A seven-member delegation of Korean Coast Guard (KCG) led by Commissioner General KIM Jong Wook, Commissioner, Korea Coast Guard held a meeting with the team of Indian Coast Guard headed by Additional Director General Rakesh Pal, Officiating Director General. Both sides discussed the modalities to strengthen the existing relations in accordance with the provisions of the MoU for sharing best practices, conducting joint exercises and enhancing training collaborations.

The High Level Meeting (HLM) between the two Coast Guards is being organised under the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2006. The HLM is focused at augmenting the operational level interaction and capacity building in the areas of Maritime Search & Rescue (M-SAR), Marine Pollution Response (MPR) and Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE).

2022

25-Nov-2022: Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kamorta Complete visit to South Korea

Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kamorta, during their stay at Busan from 21 to 23 Nov 22, participated in multiple activities with the RoK Navy that included official and social interactions, cross-deck visits and sports fixtures. The Commanding Officers of both IN ships also called on Vice Admiral Kang Dong Hun, Commander Republic of Korea Fleet, who welcomed the IN ships and discussed avenues to further strengthen maritime cooperation between Indian Navy and the RoK Navy. Vice Admiral Kang visited INS Shivalik and interacted with the Ambassador of India to RoK Shri Amit Kumar.

On departure from Busan, Shivalik and Kamorta undertook a Maritime Partnership Exercise with RoK Navy Ship No Jeok Bong. The exercise signified the close bonds of friendship and further enhanced interoperability between both the navies.

2018

10-Apr-2018: India signs MoU with Republic of Korea on Mutual Recognition of Certificates of Competency of Seafarers in Busan

India signed an MoU with the Republic of Korea on Mutual Recognition of Certificates of Competency of Seafarers. This paves the way for the two governments to mutually recognize the certificates of maritime education and training, competency, endorsements and medical fitness of seafarers issued by each other.

The signing of the agreement will benefit both countries. Korea is a large ship owning nation. As of now, Korean entities own more than 500 foreign going ships, and need seafarers to work on their fleet. India has around 1,54,349 seafarers. The agreement will open up employment opportunities for Indian seafarers on Korean ships.

2017

21-Apr-2017: India and Republic of Korea sign Inter-Governmental MOU for Defence Industry Co-Operation in Shipbuilding

India and the Republic of Korea (RoK) signed an Inter-governmental Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Defence Industry Co-operation in Shipbuilding. The MoU will help the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government of India.

The salient points of the MoU are as follows:-

Develop and strengthen defence industry co-operation between Republic of India and the Republic of Korea.
The two sides will recommend the organisations for collaborating in the implementation of specific projects.
The organisations recommended for co-operative projects may conclude separate agreements (contracts) between them to implement the specific projects.
The MoU will come into effect from the date of signature by both sides and will be initially valid for a period of five years and would be automatically extendable for further successive five year at a time.

The Inter-Governmental MoU, was conceived under the overall umbrella of the ‘Special Strategic Partnership’ between both sides as declared in the Joint Statement of the Prime Minister of India and the President of RoK in May 2015.

To substantiate the ‘Special Strategic Partnership’, the two sides had inter-alia agreed to encourage greater co-operation between their shipyards in the defence sector. Accordingly, it was decided to sign an inter-governmental MoU on ‘Defence Industry Co-operation in Shipbuilding’. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has accorded its approval for signing the above MoU with RoK and also for nominating Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam from the Indian side for the collaboration. RoK will indicate the name of its recommended organisation for the collaboration in due course of time.

The co-operation with the recommended Korean Shipyard would enable HSL to upgrade and modernise its facilities and execute naval shipbuilding projects in a timely and cost effective manner. HSL would be able to imbibe best practices in shipbuilding leading to effective project management.

As a result of the proposed partnership, the production of HSL is expected to grow substantially, leading to creation of more employment avenues. Further, in consultation with the recommended Korean partner, it is planned to identify and develop indigenous sources/vendors for the supply of majority of the material and equipment that would be needed in co-operative naval projects, thus paving the way for the development of ancillary industry /maritime cluster in the region.