South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Visit India from April 19–21

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will pay a State Visit to India from April 19 to 21, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a move expected to give fresh momentum to the India–Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, President Lee will be accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea Kyung and a high-level delegation of ministers, senior officials and business leaders.

The visit will centre on a summit meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Lee, where the two sides are expected to review the full spectrum of bilateral ties and discuss ways to deepen cooperation in key sectors. Official and media reports indicate the agenda is likely to span trade and investment, shipbuilding, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical and emerging technologies, defence cooperation, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties, alongside regional and global issues of shared interest.

The visit comes at a time when both countries are trying to expand economic and strategic convergence in the Indo-Pacific. India and South Korea are already linked through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and both sides have been working to broaden cooperation in manufacturing, digital trade, green energy and supply chains. Recent official dialogue between the two countries has also reaffirmed the intention to advance the Special Strategic Partnership through regular high-level engagements in 2026.

Shipbuilding is emerging as one of the most closely watched areas in this trip. Reports suggest the two governments could explore cooperation that supports India’s maritime manufacturing ambitions by drawing on South Korea’s established strengths in commercial shipbuilding, including areas such as LNG carriers and other civilian vessels. That would fit neatly into India’s broader push to expand domestic industrial capability under its manufacturing agenda.

The visit is also politically significant because it will be President Lee’s first visit to India since taking office, and Reuters described it as the first visit by a South Korean leader to India in eight years. The inclusion of a large business delegation, with participation reportedly from major Korean conglomerates, signals that commercial ties will be as important as diplomatic messaging during the three-day visit.

Taken together, the trip is expected to reinforce the idea that India and South Korea are moving beyond a conventional trade relationship toward a broader strategic alignment shaped by technology, resilient supply chains, advanced manufacturing and shared Indo-Pacific interests.

Reference:

https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl%2F41047%2FState+Visit+of+President+of+Republic+of+Korea+HE+Lee+Jae+Myung+to+India+April+1921+2026=
https://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-info.htm?1%2F1567%2FState+Visit+of+President+of+Republic+of+Korea+HE+Lee+Jae+Myung+to+India+April+1921+2026=
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/south-korean-president-to-visit-india-apr-19-21-meet-pm-modi-to-deepen-strategic-ties-101776361040778.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korean-president-lee-visit-india-vietnam-between-april-19-24-newsis-2026-04-16/
https://m.economictimes.com/industry/transportation/shipping-/-transport/india-south-korea-shipbuilding-collaboration-to-receive-mega-boost-from-presidential-visit-next-week/articleshow/130309321.cms