Korean-Canadian woman Zena Chung seeks support to build Ram Temple (Ram Mandir) in Korea on Ayodhya line
She believes that the Korean city Gimhae and Ayodhya have a historical connect as Princess Suri Ratna of Ayodhya had married to King Kim Suro in 48AD, and become Queen Heo Hwang-ok. About 15 million Koreans trace their ancestry to the legendary princess.
NEW DELHI/SEOUL: Zena Chung, a Korean-Canadian woman entrepreneur based in Seoul has been camping in India for many months to garner support for her proposal to build a Lord Ram Temple in the City of Gimhae, Korea, on the lines of the one being constructed in the Indian holy city Ayodhya. She has been relentlessly meeting Indian ministers, bureaucrats, and others in the power circles to push for her proposal, which she claims can further strengthen bonds between India and South Korea, and take it to new heights.
Also known as Seon D. Chung, and the recipient of the Sarojini Naidu, International Award for Women’s Development, she believes that the sister cities Gimhae and Ayodhya have a deep-rooted historical connect as Princess Suri Ratna of Ayodhya had traveled to Korea about 2000 years back (on 17th July in 48AD), and married King Kim Suro, and had came to be called Queen Heo Hwang-ok in 48AD. The duo had 10 sons and two daughters from their marriage.
“About 15 million Koreans trace their ancestry to the legendary princess. There is a wonderful memorial and Shrine in the City of Gimhae, South Korea, in Memory of the Queen and the King, which is visited by hundreds of Indians as well,” said Zena, Director of Global Diplomats Forum, and Founder & Director, Indo-Korean Business Culture Center (IKBCC) & Korea-India Business Culture Forum (KIBCF).
“I am having discussions with various authorities and organizations, connected with the building of the Ayodhya Temple for constructing a similar one in South Korea, in the City of Gimhae. I also have initiated the proposal as Director, Global Diplomats Forum, Korea with the Government of Korea. I also have as written to the President of the Republic of Korea, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Mayor of the City of Gimhae to construct a similar Lord Ram Temple, like the one in Ayodhya in Korea as well,” she told Asian Community News Network in an exclusive interview.
Ms. Zena Chung also produced a documentary in 2020 in Korea about the well-known legend in both Korea and India of the journey of Princess Suri Ratna of Ayodhya. It was widely received well in both the countries. She was recently awarded Miss Peace Ambassador Global, by the Indian Solidarity Council, India.
Ayodhya-Gimhae connection:
On 6th November 2018, the First Lady of Korea, Jung-sook Kim, along with the Minister of Culture and Tourism had come to India for the foundation stone laying Ceremony of the up-gradation and renovation of the Queen Heo Memorial Park in Ayodhya, by Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
On March 2016, a 38-member South Korean delegation made a proposal to develop the memorial further. The proposal was accepted by the Chief Minister. Thereafter on 23rd October 2022, the Park came to be fully renovated and thrown open to the public, in the presence of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.
Based on formal Korean Governmental approval, the Mayors of the City of “Ayodhya” in India, and the City of “Gimhae” in South Korea also signed an International “Sister City” bond in March 2001 to formalize the relationship and encourage cultural and mutual development.
About Zena Chung
The multi-faceted global personality Zena Chung, a Korean Canadian based in Seoul, works as a peace ambassador for the UN Peace Keepers Federal Council (UNPKFC), a goodwill ambassador for the International Human Rights Protection Services and a senior adviser to the UN Habitat Korea Committee. She is the co-founder of the Korean-American Businessmen Friendship Forum (KABFF). She is also the advisor to the Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, in South Korea. Chung is connected with the Indian Economic Trade Organization (IETO), a trade promotion organization under the government of India.
She was appointed as the Board’s director of the South Korea Committee in June 2020. An advocate of women in leadership, she is the CEO of Eva Global Holdings, which specializes in communication and consulting on international trade, investment, public diplomacy and international business. She was nominated as the recipient of the award by Dr. Sandeep Marwah, president of the International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry in 2020. Marwah is a renowned film director and producer in India. He runs the Asian Academy of Arts, which organizes the award. Recently, she was also awarded ‘Miss Peace-Ambassador Global Award,’ by the Indian Solidarity Council.
