Korean Special Envoy Kim Boo-kyum to meet PM Modi today
EXCLUSIVE: The focus areas of discussion could revolve around defense, cultural and human resource exchanges, including MPA, as well as expanding the scope of CEPA.
New Delhi, India – On his maiden visit to India after being appointed as a special envoy this Sunday, the former South Korean Prime Minister, Kim Boo-kyum, is likely to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this afternoon, highly placed sources told the ACN Network.
Leading a high-level delegation, the special envoy to India, Kim Boo-kyum, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday evening on a 2-day visit to India.
He is reportedly scheduled to meet the Indian external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, first before meeting PM Modi today. Recently, Jaishankar visited China, where he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and met with President Xi Jinping.
The designation of Kim as a special envoy to India and three others for the European Union, France, and the United Kingdom suggests a strategic move by South Korean President Lee aimed at reinforcing Seoul’s relations with key global partners. His appointment is part of President Lee’s broader diplomatic outreach as the South Korean presidential office is consulting with 14 countries regarding the dispatch of special envoys.
Today, Thursday, the special envoy’s meeting with PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar is expected to focus on defense cooperation, cultural and human resource exchanges, including a mobility and partnership agreement (MPA) that enables Indian workers to join the workforce in Korea. Currently, 16 countries have this agreement with Korea under its Employment Permit System (EPS) for foreign workers in Korea, allowing their workers to secure jobs there. However, India does not appear on the list.
Another key issue could be the widening scope of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two nations. Despite a series of ministerial-level meetings on the subject of expanding CEPA, little progress has been made, affecting the potential for bilateral trade to reach the mutually agreed-upon target of USD 50 billion by 2030. Currently, it hovers around USD 28 billion.
Korea and India signed the CEPA in 2009, but it came into effect in 2010.
However, Kim Boo-kyum, who served as South Korea’s Prime Minister from 2021 to 2022, is a seasoned statesman known for his extensive experience in both legislative and executive roles, and is expected to move things with India during his first visit here as a special envoy.
A member of the Democratic Party, he was the former Minister of Interior and Safety from 2017 to 2019. He was also a Member of the National Assembly for Suseong 1st constituency from 2016 to 2020 and Gunpo from 2000 to 2012.
A four-term lawmaker and former interior minister, Kim has long been recognized for his bipartisan appeal and strong leadership credentials. His appointment underscores Seoul’s commitment to deepening cooperation with New Delhi across multiple domains, including defense, cultural exchange, and human resources development.
