Korea–India Peace & Unification Forum to Convene in Gurugram on August 27

New Delhi/Seoul – Gurugram, a suburb of India’s capital New Delhi, is set to host the 2025 Korea–India Peace & Unification Forum (2025 한 . 인도 평화통일포럼) on August 2, marking a significant step in fostering closer ties between the two countries while broadening discussions on peace and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Around one hundred participants are expected, including scholars, policymakers, diplomats, media representatives, and members of the Korean and Indian communities.

To be hosted by the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) Southwest Asia at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the forum will open with an address by Lee Kwang-il, Chair of PUAC’s Southwest Asia Council, followed by congratulatory messages from the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, Lee Seong-ho. The PUAC’s Southwest Asia Council represents India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

While explaining the purpose of the event, PUAC Southwest Asia Council chief Lee Kwang-il, said, “The event aims to deepen Korea–India ties across economic, social, cultural and policy spheres, while discussing practical pathways to co-prosperity and peace that extends beyond the Korean Peninsula to the wider Indo-Pacific. A parallel goal is to build public understanding in India of peace and eventual unification on the Korean Peninsula through informed, multi-stakeholder conversation.”

The opening sets the stage for a day of substantive discussions designed to strengthen Korea–India relations across political, economic, social, and cultural spheres, while also building shared understanding in India of the peace and unification agenda on the Korean Peninsula.

• Name: 2025 Korea–India Peace & Unification Forum
• Date & Time: Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 2:00–8:00 p.m. dinner 6:00–8:00 p.m.
• Venue: Hotel Crowne Plaza, Gurugram
• Organiser: PUAC Southwest Asia Council
• Format: Two themed sessions, simultaneous interpretation, networking dinner
• Participants: ~100 experts and stakeholders from Korea and India

The first session, chaired by Choi Yoon-kyung of the Sejong Institute, will examine “Expanding Peace in the Indo-Pacific and Strategies for Korea–India Cooperation.” Keynote presentations will be delivered by Professor Kim Tae-hyung of Soongsil University, who also serves as President of the Korean Association of International Studies, and Professor Sandeep Kumar Mishra of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

This session will focus on the regional security architecture, economic interdependence, and how New Delhi and Seoul can align strategies to promote stability and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific. Discussions are expected to highlight practical avenues of cooperation ranging from trade and technology partnerships to security dialogue.

The second session will delve into “Opening the Path to Shared Prosperity: The Future of Korea–India Cooperation.” This segment will bring together voices from both countries to discuss collaboration in society and culture, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Contributions will include insights from Kim Ezra of the PUAC Secretariat, Professor Prabhakar Sahu of Delhi’s Economic Growth Research Institute, and Choi Hyun-a, Conservation Ecologist and Senior Researcher of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Korea.

The session will emphasise the importance of people-to-people exchanges, higher education partnerships, and joint approaches to tackling pressing global challenges such as climate change.

The forum, which will be conducted with simultaneous Korean–English interpretation, is expected to generate actionable cooperation ideas, foster new bilateral networks, and deepen public awareness in India of Korea’s pursuit of peace and eventual unification. By bringing together leading scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from both sides, the event underscores the growing strategic importance of Korea–India relations within the broader Indo-Pacific context.

The discussions will conclude with a wrap-up session before participants move to a networking dinner, offering further opportunities for dialogue and partnership-building. Organisers have expressed confidence that the forum will not only consolidate the already strong relationship between Seoul and New Delhi but also pave the way for collaborative initiatives with meaningful impact on regional and global peace.

Expected outcomes:

• A sharper shared understanding of the peace and unification agenda on the Korean Peninsula within India’s policy and academic circles
• Actionable cooperation ideas spanning security dialogue, economic partnership, cultural and educational exchanges, and climate collaboration
• Strengthened Korea–India expert network across think tanks, universities, media and community organisations