Writing & Editing Committee formed to publish book: 70 Years of Korean History in India

NEW DELHI/SEOUL: In the first major step towards publishing the book on “70 Years of Korean History in India”, the Federation of Korean Associations in India (FKAI) has formed the “Writing and Editing Committee”. Headed by the veteran Korean linguistic expert Prof Do Young Kim, the committee represent experts from diverse fields and includes Dr Choong Jae Cho, Head of Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), Kisang Kim, Head, Korea Export Import Bank (KEXIM) India, Chulhee Lee, Team Head in Korean Embassy, Prof Myungee Lee, Professor, Delhi University (DU), Prof Taehong Kim, Professor at JNU, and Sanjeev K Ahuja, Editor-in-Chief, Asian Community News (ACN) Network.

Spearheading the project, Prof. Do-young Kim is currently the Director, Korean Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia University and also Chairman, Researchers’ Association for The Study of Korea (RASK).  Sponsored by the government of the Republic of Korea through Korean Overseas Foundation, the project aims to complete publication of the book by the October 2024. The year 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the existence of Korean community in India.

According to Park Euy Don, President of Federation of Korean Associations in India (FKAI), the project was conceived last year in 2022 when the proposal was submitted with the Korean government. Besides putting in  its own resources, the FKAI would source support from Indian and Korean institutions and individuals to support this project with money and talent to make it a grand success.

“The proposed book will be made available in the public domain by the end of next year. It would be published in Korean as well as English languages ​​to reach out to the maximum audience in India, Korea, and other countries,” said Park Euy Don. A related announcement he made during the India Korea Friendship Gala dinner organized y India Republic of Korea Friendship Society (IRKFS) of which he the vice president.

“The first set of Korean people landed in India in 1954 were the 88 prisoners of war (POWs) after the South-North Korea war ended (1950-53). They choose to settle down in the 3rd country India rather than in South Korea and North Korea. In the beginning, the life for these Koreans was very tough and bitter as these newcomers struggled hard to cope with the new terrain, culture and atmosphere but not only successfully survived but also exceled in this land of generosity,” said Park Euy Don.

At last, after 70 years, the Korean community is number 1 foreigner expat community in India in terms of the size of population that is estimated to be around 17,000. And it is still counting.

“Next 30 years from now there will be scripted a different level of growth and success story for Korean people here, as the last 70 years of patient efforts and variety practice in India gave them enormous courage and acute insight into the Indian living and working conditions. In this context, we dare to move ahead to publish our Indo Korean history book with the hope of establishing foothold for our next generation  for their 30 years coming ahead.”

Besides the history of arrivals, growth, and struggle of the Korean community as well as trade and industry in India in the past 70 years based on both primary and secondary research, the Writing and Editing Committee is also planning to include a dedicated chapter on the India Korea Friendship history. And the record and law story material will be surveyed and will be written by the Indian writer together.

Park Euy Don has urged the Indian and Korean community to participate in the course of the friendship story and history writing and share any piece of historical information, document or photographs with the Writing and Editing Committee.

“We will be searching and collecting vast and massive material and sorting and  arranging them to make valuable historical text book. Our master schedule is targeting to complete our work by October 2024. We plan to publish the 70 years Korean History in India book bilingually 2000 copies in Korean and in English, respectively.”

In order to ensure maximum reach and acceptability of the book, it would be distributed to almost all public and private institutions, academic and public libraries, industries along with corporate business world in Korea and in India.

Park Euy Don said that as regards the execution of this gigantic project, the most challenging task is budgetary issue. Though the Korean government is supporting with some amount and Federation of Korean Association is also committing to cover some portion, but the remaining balance needs to be arranged with the help of contribution from the Korean and Indian society.

Related article: Coming up: A book on “70 Years of Korean History in India” by Federation of Korean Associations