
On 26th March, 2021, Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh and South Korea’s Minister of National Defence, Suh Wook inaugurated the opening of the first India-Korea Friendship park at Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi. The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, as well as a delegation from South Korea, were present.

Wook also visited the Indian Army’s 60 Para Field Hospital. During the 50s’ Korean war, the hospital had provided medical aid to the UN and South Korean forces. The India-Korea Friendship park was built in honour of such supportive acts from Indian peacekeepers during 1950-53. In turn, Wook obliged by paying his tribute to Indian war heroes at the National War Memorial.
Delighted to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Indo-Korean Friendship Park in Delhi today along with the RoK’s Defence Minister, Mr Suh Wook, who is on a three day visit to India.
This park commemorates the contribution of Indian peacekeeping force during the Korean War. pic.twitter.com/MCoiOj9Rco
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 26, 2021
The India-Korea Friendship Park

The Indian Army, Union Defence Ministry, Government of India, Delhi Cantonment Board, Embassy of Korea and Korean War Veterans Association of India were involved in the development of the park. The park encompasses 6 acres of land with a Korean-style gate at its entrance. The green area houses a jogging track and an amphitheatre along with a garden. It also includes a larger than life black marble statue of a handshake between South Korea and India.
Additionally, a colossal statue of General KS Thimayya was built in the park. He was responsible for leading the Indian party as the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission Chairman. The contingent received its first UN assignment under him and was in charge of assembling unrepatriated prisoners of wars. The 5 pillars placed around his statue detail the activities that the 60 Parachute Field Ambulance undertook during the Korean war. One of the pillars even mentions Rabindranath Tagore’s speech where he called Korea “The Lamp of the East.”

Others attending the inauguration ceremony of the India-Korea Friendship park were Chief of Defence Staff General, Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General, MM Naravane, Navy Chief Admiral, Karambir Singh, Air Chief Marshal, RKS Bhadauria and members of the Korean War Veterans Association of India.
Demonstration By Indian Army’s Paratroopers
Furthermore, to celebrate Wook’s three-day visit to India, he was invited to a half-hour exercise by 650 of the Indian Army’s paratroopers in Agra the next day. It was supervised by the Indian Army Chief General, MM Naravane. 25 paratroopers fell from an aircraft at 12,000 ft to show off their combat free fall. Another unit of 80 men demonstrated static line jump by falling from an aircraft at 1,250 feet.

Wook was in the country to improve the defence ties as well as military cooperation between the two countries. South Korea has also been the supplier of the majority of Indian weapons and military equipment. Back in 2019, the two countries had also created a road map that would enable the joint production of their land and naval systems.
Had excellent deliberations with the Republic of Korea’s Defence Minister, Mr Suh Wook, in New Delhi today. We discussed ways to strengthen and further deepen defence cooperation between India and RoK. pic.twitter.com/ewviEJMViI
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 26, 2021
Were you surprised by the close bond that India and South Korea share? Did you know that some of us can also trace our ancestry back to Korean royalty? Well, it looks like we’ve been in close contact way before the Hallyu Wave took the world by storm. Let us know your thoughts on it in the comments below.
[…] the much-celebrated inauguration of the India-Korea Friendship park at Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi in March 2021, it seems it was time to further the India-Korea […]