India‑South Korea to Boost Cooperation in Ship‑building, Health, Infrastructure & Defence – Jaishankar at Jeju Forum, 2026

Overview On June 25, 2026 , S. Jaishankar , India’s External Affairs Minister , addressed the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity 2026 in Jeju, South Korea. He urged closer cooperation with the Republic of Korea in several sectors and highlighted the need for greater capacity for the Global South . Key Developments India and South Korea to deepen ties in ship‑building , digital , health, infrastructure and defence . Both sides stressed the importance of “new understandings” to stabilise the global order and promote agenda‑specific cooperation. The minister called for “greater capacity and opportunities” for the Global South to create new factors of global growth. Jaishankar warned that when the interests of a few are prioritised, the costs to the many increase, and urged a move towards genuine multipolarity . He met former UN Secretary‑General Ban Ki‑moon and former Mongolian Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar on the sidelines of the forum. Important Facts The talks on June 24, 2026 between Jaishankar and his South Korean counterpart Cho Hyun focused on bilateral cooperation and the changing global scenario. They reviewed follow‑up measures in trade, investment and finance that were agreed during President Lee Jae‑myung ’s state visit to India in April 2026. UPSC Relevance The discussion touches on several UPSC themes: foreign policy coordination (GS2), economic collaboration in high‑tech sectors (GS3), and the strategic importance of a balanced global order (GS2 & GS4). Understanding the concept of the Global South and the push for multipolarity is essential for answering questions on India’s role in multilateral institutions. Way Forward India should formalise sector‑specific MoUs with South Korea to harness complementarities in ship‑building, digital technologies, health and defence. Parallelly, it must champion inclusive platforms that give the Global South a larger voice in climate, health and security dialogues. Strengthening such partnerships will support India’s strategic autonomy and contribute to a stable, multipolar world order.