South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung Begins Landmark India Visit, Meets Jaishankar Ahead Of Talks With PM Modi

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Delhi on Sunday (April 19, 2026) commencing a three-day state visit to India, marking the first visit by a South Korean head of state in more than eight years. The high-profile trip is being seen as a major diplomatic push by Seoul to deepen engagement with the Global South and “reboot” ties with New Delhi.

President Lee, who assumed office in June 2025, arrived in New Delhi accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea-kyung. In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said, “A very warm welcome to H.E. President Lee Jae Myung of Republic of Korea as he arrives in New Delhi on a State Visit to India. This is President Lee’s first visit…,” adding that it marks “an important milestone in advancing the Special Strategic Partnership.”

He was received at the airport by Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, underlining the importance India attaches to the visit.

What happened during his first engagements in Delhi?

Soon after his arrival, President Lee’s diplomatic engagements began with a key meeting scheduled with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The interaction is expected to lay the groundwork for the broader bilateral summit and align priorities across strategic, economic and technological domains.

Jaishankar, in a social media post, confirmed that President Lee will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (April 20, 2026), setting the stage for high-level talks aimed at expanding cooperation. “Value his commitment to deepen India – Korea relations across multiple domains,” he added.

PM Modi-Lee summit talks: What is on the agenda?

The centrepiece of the visit will be the bilateral summit between President Lee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House. The discussions are expected to be wide-ranging and could result in several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), especially in critical and emerging sectors.

Key focus areas include semiconductors and green energy, expanding defence production under the “Make in India” initiative with Korean engineering, and boosting trade ties through an enhanced Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Following the talks, both leaders are scheduled to issue joint press statements outlining their shared vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

How does this visit build on India-South Korea ties?

India and South Korea elevated their relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership in 2015, and cooperation has since expanded across advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, defence, infrastructure and digital innovation.

South Korean companies have built a strong presence in India’s industrial and consumer sectors, while Indian firms have steadily expanded their footprint in Korea. Officials believe President Lee’s visit could inject fresh momentum into these engagements and open new avenues for trade and investment.

What other key events are planned during the visit?

President Lee is set to receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan and will visit Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi on Monday. He will also address a Business Forum at Bharat Mandapam, bringing together top industry leaders from both countries to explore investment opportunities and strengthen supply chain resilience.

The visit will conclude with a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu, reflecting the deep political and cultural ties between the two nations.