Indians in Korea

Last updated
Indians in Korea
주한 인도인
Regions with significant populations
South Korea24,414 (2013) [1]
North Korea586 (2015) [2]
Languages
Hindi  ·Other Indian languages  · Korean
Religion
Majority Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Indians in Japan


Indians in Korea include the migrant diaspora from India to Korea and their locally-born descendants. A majority of them live in Seoul and Busan, and smaller populations live in other parts of South Korea. The Indian population in North Korea is negligible, consisting of embassy staff and NGO members.

Contents

The Government of India's Ministry of External Affairs estimates the Overseas Indian population to be about 17,000 in South Korea, as of 2025. It is reported that 16 Indian citizens live in North Korea, although official data is hard to verify. [3] During the Coronavirus pandemic, India safely evacuated its embassy staff through a special Russia-bound train. [4]

History of Indian migration

Malananta: the 4th century Indian Buddhist monk in Korea

Buddhist expansion in Asia, from Buddhist heartland in northern India (dark orange) starting 5th century BCE, to Buddhist majority realm (orange), and historical extent of Buddhism influences (yellow). Mahayana (red arrow), Theravada (green arrow), and Tantric-Vajrayana (blue arrow). The overland and maritime "Silk Roads" were interlinked and complementary, forming what scholars have called the "great circle of Buddhism". Buddhist Expansion.svg
Buddhist expansion in Asia, from Buddhist heartland in northern India (dark orange) starting 5th century BCE, to Buddhist majority realm (orange), and historical extent of Buddhism influences (yellow). Mahāyāna (red arrow), Theravāda (green arrow), and Tantric-Vajrayāna (blue arrow). The overland and maritime "Silk Roads" were interlinked and complementary, forming what scholars have called the "great circle of Buddhism".

The two oldest extant histories of Korea, 'Samguk yusa' and 'Samguk Sagi,' record the following three monks among the first to bring the Buddhist teaching, or Dharma, to Korea in the 4th century during the Three Kingdoms period. These mention the following monks: Malananta (मेघानंदा, Meghananda, Melananda or cloud monk)- an Indian Buddhist monk who came via the Serindian area of southern China's Eastern Jin Dynasty. He was received by the King Chimnyu of Baekje in the southern Korea in 384 CE. [6] [7]

Medieval period

In the 14th century, the Buddhist monk of Nalanda, Dhyānabhadra, came to Korea during the Goryeo period. He played an important role in the development of Buddhism in Korea and upon his death, his relics were ordered by Gongmin of Goryeo to be brought to Korea where his followers built a stupa on top. [8]

Portrait of Dhyanabhadra at Silleuksa Dhyanabhadra.png
Portrait of Dhyānabhadra at Silleuksa

Korean War

Indian troops of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission disembarking at Incheon, 1 September 1953. 1953.9.1 indogun jungribgamsidan inceonoehang docag (7445971822).jpg
Indian troops of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission disembarking at Incheon, 1 September 1953.

While the Indian army did not militarily get involved in the Korean War, it sent a medical unit, the 60 Parachute Field Ambulance, which served in Korea for three and a half years (Nov 1950- May 1954), the longest single tenure by any military unit under the UN flag.

They were involved in providing medical cover alternately to the US Army/ROK forces and the Commonwealth Division under the UN Command as well as the local civilians, and earned the informal title, "The Maroon Angels."[ citation needed ]. The unit also looked after the North Korean POWs. The unit provided an ADS and a surgical team (7 officers and 5 other ranks) during Operation Tomahawk, an airborne operation launched on 21 March 1951 by the US Army's 187 Airborne Regimental Combat Team.

Towards the end of the Korean War in 1953, a reinforced brigade known as the Custodian Force of India was deployed for the repatriation of the prisoners of war and was deployed for almost two years (1953–54).

Postwar Korea

Economic Growth

After the Korean War, there remained only 1 Indian in South Korea, a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) employee until 1966, when an Indian student came to study at Seoul National University. In the late 1960s, South Korea started exporting heavily, attracting some Indian diaspora with Sindhi traders from Hong Kong and Singapore. In the 1980s, professionals began immigrating to South Korea, and in the 1990s, South Korean universities admitted Indian students for classes and research. [9]

Current Status

Professional cooks

Most of professional cooks usually work at restaurants in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, and other cities. Some are hired by Korean owners of Indian restaurants and hotels, while others own their own restaurants. [9]

Cultural exchange

Technology has allowed for increased cultural exchange between India and Korea, leading to increased international engagement with Korean pop culture concerning both K-pop and K-dramas. Younger generations try to speak Korean and imitate Korean styles in India, especially in Manipur. The fascination with South Korea increases the interest of Indians in Korea who pursue paths like acting or the idol industry. [10]

Organizations and associations

With a burgeoning Indian community exceeding 10000, several representative organizations in South Korea have been established in South Korea. Some notable communities that are active include

See also

References

  1. ↑ Major indicators of Korea, South Korea: Korean Statistical Information Service, 2009, p. 262, retrieved 2011-03-21
  2. ↑ "World Migration | International Organization for Migration". Iom.int. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Population of Overseas Indians". Ministry of External Affairs.
  4. ↑ "COVID-19: India 'Temporarily Closes' Embassy in North Korea, Ambassador Leaves Country".
  5. ↑ Acri, Andrea (20 December 2018). "Maritime Buddhism" . Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.638. ISBN   9780199340378. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "Malananta bring Buddhism to Baekje" in Samguk Yusa III, Ha & Mintz translation, pp. 178-179.
  7. ↑ Kim, Won-yong (1960), "An Early Gilt-bronze Seated Buddha from Seoul", Artibus Asiae, 23 (1): 67–71, doi:10.2307/3248029, JSTOR   3248029 , pg. 71
  8. ↑ Huntley Grayson, James (2002). Korea: A Religious History. Routledge. p. 99. ISBN   9781136869181.
  9. 1 2 Tayal, Skand R. (2014). India and the Republic of Korea: engaged democracies. New Delhi: Routledge. ISBN   978-1-138-02036-8.
  10. ↑ Kanozia, Rubal; Ganghariya, Garima (2021-07-03). "Cultural proximity and hybridity: popularity of Korean pop culture in India" . Media Asia. 48 (3): 219–228. doi:10.1080/01296612.2021.1902079. ISSN   0129-6612.
  11. ↑ "Indians in Korea |" . Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  12. ↑ Kesavapany, K.; Mani, A.; Ramasamy, P., eds. (2008). Rising India and Indian communities in East Asia. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN   978-981-230-868-9.
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