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India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met in Seoul on Wednesday (June 24, 2026) to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation and exchange views on the situation in the Middle East and global supply chains, according to Seoul's foreign ministry. The talks also reviewed progress on follow-up measures from the April summit between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Jaishankar, in his opening remarks, said it was "a great pleasure to be back in Seoul" and noted the meeting was "timely, given the state of the world and the importance of the bilateral relationship." The two ministers discussed follow-up measures in key areas such as trade, investment, and finance, as agreed during President Lee's state visit to India in April.

Coverage Comparison

The meeting was covered by both Indian and South Korean news outlets, with The Hindu and Yonhap News Agency providing accounts of the discussions. While The Hindu's coverage focused on Jaishankar's remarks and the potential of the bilateral partnership, Yonhap's reports emphasized the ministerial meeting as a follow-up to the April summit and included details on the establishment of a task force and dedicated economic cooperation units in both capitals.

Both outlets reported that the two ministers exchanged views on the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East and its implications for global supply chains. According to Seoul's foreign ministry, the two sides shared the view that "the swift and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the free and secure navigation of all vessels are critical to global security and economic stability." They agreed to maintain close communication and continue supporting international efforts toward that end.

Yonhap also reported that Cho welcomed the steady implementation of follow-up projects in the economic, social, and cultural fields, while Jaishankar stressed the need to faithfully implement relevant measures to further advance the two countries' "special strategic partnership." Later, Jaishankar posted on X, saying they reviewed cooperation across "political, shipbuilding, trade, investments, defence, technology, clean energy, culture and people-to-people domains."

India also hosted "Korea Week" this week to enhance communication with South Korean companies operating in the country, as reported by both outlets.

Key Claims

  • Both Jaishankar and Cho discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in economy, defense, and artificial intelligence.
  • The ministers reviewed progress on follow-up measures from the April summit between President Lee Jae-myung and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • India hosted "Korea Week" to enhance communication with Korean companies operating in India.
  • The two sides exchanged views on the Middle East situation and global supply chains, agreeing on the importance of safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Jaishankar met with former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former Mongolian Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar on the sidelines of the Jeju Forum.
  • At the Jeju Forum, Jaishankar called for greater capacity and opportunities for the Global South to create new factors of growth, saying that "the interests of a few" are being "openly prioritised" without naming any country.