Korea in the World: India

Being a pianist, I tried my luck in the United Kingdom and other countries to find ways to play for my love of music, but also to do church and social services.

In 2004, my dreams came true: I got the opportunity to go and work in India. My parents, who are devout Christians, readily agreed with my wish to visit India, though some of my friends were apprehensive of me visiting such a country.

Nevertheless, one fine morning in January 2004, I found myself landing at the Delhi International Airport, then searching for a house and a vehicle. Initially I had a big problem communicating with people, as I had only a little knowledge of English and none of Hindi.

Koreans are known for systematic working practices and not shying away from hard work, so I took it upon myself to learn the local language immediately. The subcontinent of India has 12 official languages and many more dialects. In India, it is said that every 30 kilometers, the language changes. However, besides Hindi, English is also one of the national languages and is now widely spoken due to British rule for nearly two centuries.

I admit that initially I had culture shock, seeing so much poverty, lack of discipline and the easy-going life. But I was confident that God would guide me, as just a few decades ago even Korea was like that.

Gradually, I started venturing out and mixing with the locals. I found out that a great number of Koreans (more than 12,000) inhabited New Delhi, for work and to learn about Indian art and culture.

I started to notice Korea in India. After the Indian economy improved, Koreans have made headway in every field of life, ranging from construction, beauty parlors, heavy industries and even Korean cuisine restaurants. Indian markets are now flooded with Korean goods, like electronics from Samsung and LG and Hyundai cars. People are even seen donning Korean-brand clothes in great numbers. Korean giants like Samsung and LG also sponsor India’s national sport, Cricket.

With the opening of the Korean Cultural Center in New Delhi, interest in Korean culture, especially in the Korean language, has increased significantly. Both the Delhi and Jawahar LAL Nehru Universities have Korean language classes (up to the Ph.D. level) and the classes are packed. Korean academicians in these universities have found the need to write textbooks in the Korean language to provide easy assimilation of a foreign language for native Koreans. Koreans are keen to learn the mother tongue, Hindi, and join en-masse to Hindi Sansthan, the official institute for teaching Hindi to foreigners.

Korean restaurants, albeit with higher prices because of imported ingredients, are quite popular among Indian youth, who appreciate the health-conscious food habits of Koreans. However, some Koreans still do not use Indian dishes, except the tandoori (roasted) chicken and naan (bread made in a local oven from a drum, with firewood as kindle). I have, on the other hand, developed a taste for Indian dishes (daal, subji, roti and paratha), as I am married to an Indian.

In India, the Korean community is well-linked, with many individuals meeting on Sundays at church or bumping into one another at one of the many luxurious malls in the capital. The most popular and the cheapest means of transportation is the metro (subway), a gift of Korean engineering to India, along with Daewoo cars.

The relationship of India and Korea dates back to the 6th century, when Buddhism (Gautama Buddha was born in India) entered Korea. There have always been cordial relations between our two countries, and the Indian Armed Forces came to the aid of Korea in the Korean War (it is an important topic taught in military strategy classes at the Indian Army Academies).

The huge market of India offers a great scope for Korea in the trade and commerce sectors. Gwangju’s Chonnam National University has drawn MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) with many Indian universities for student exchange programs, specifically in engineering programs. In return, Korean troupes frequently visit India to give presentations, as there is a tremendous boost towards tourism in both countries.

Though I have made India my home, I still do not wish to lose contact with my own country, especially my home in Gwangju. I do miss the homemade food of my eomeoni (mother) and thus frequently visit my parents to satisfy my craving for kimchi. I have brought my husband along to undergo regular courses in Korean. He seems to be enjoying his studentship, along with being a good help to my parents. My husband has also been associated with Korean Mountaineers for the last two decades.

I sincerely believe intermixing of cultures is a healthy thing, in which both parties mutually benefit. Good things can always be picked up from one another and bad ones dropped. I am happy that many Indians are coming to Korea, appreciating the job opportunities and good life there. I feel lucky to have two homes and have found them both inviting and satisfying.