The Korea Centre at the School of International Relations and Politics, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, organised a Young Scholars Korean Studies Workshop exploring the theme “Between Hallyu and Indo-Pacific: Evolving Dimensions in India-South Korea Relations.” on November 12, 2024. This academic initiative was made possible through the generous support of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS), Republic of Korea.
The event commenced with welcome remarks by Dr. Jojin V John, Hon. Director of the Korea Centre, followed by inaugural addresses from Prof. CT Aravindakumar, Vice-Chancellor of MG University, and Mr. Kim Chang-nyun, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Chennai.
The workshop was structured into three main sessions. The first session, chaired by Dr. Neerja Samjdhar (Centre for Korean Studies, JNU), focused on mapping the Korean Wave in India. Pallavi Kumari (Centre for Korean Studies, JNU) presented on South Korea’s billion-dollar webtoon industry, while Advaitha (IMPSS, MG University) discussed K-wave’s impact on Indian youth. Anoushka S Rabha (IIT Chennai) analysed kimchi’s cultural identity and media influence, and Gourilakshmi (SIRP, MG University) explored cultural diplomacy’s role in the India-Korea strategic partnership.
The second session, chaired by Dr. Aparna Eswaran (SIRP, MG University), explored K-pop’s influence on social change and migration. Vanshika Yadav (Delhi School of Economics) and Ardra R (SIRP, MG University) examined K-pop’s impact on masculinity perspectives in India, while Anshif Ekkadan (Ashoka University, Sonipat) presented on K-pop’s role in driving student migration trends.
The final session, chaired by Dr. Jitendra Uttam (JNU), discussed India-Korea strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific. Shreya Das (South Asia University, New Delhi) presented on inclusive Indo-Pacific as a converging point for both nations, and Mithun Rajesh (IMPSS, MG University) discussed India-South Korea defence partnerships, focusing on joint military exercises and strategic alignment.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Jojin V. John, Hon. Director of the Korea Centre, highlighted the Centre’s commitment to promoting Korean Studies in India by encouraging and training young scholars and students. The workshop, supported by AKS, was a successful outcome of the Korea Centre Internship Programme, which provided research training to aspiring scholars. The presentations demonstrated the growing academic interest in Korean Studies among young Indian researchers, covering diverse aspects of India-South Korea relations, from cultural influences through Hallyu to strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. This initiative exemplified the Korea Centre’s role in nurturing the next generation of Korean Studies scholars in India through structured research training and academic mentorship.