Indians in Korea

2022-05-28T22:58:40Z

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{{Infobox ethnic group
|group= Indians in Korea
<br/>주한 인도인
|image=
|caption=
|population=
|popplace=
|region1 = South Korea
|pop1 = 24,414 (2013)
|ref1 = <ref name="Immigration.go.kr">{{citation|title=Major indicators of Korea|url=http://kosis.kr/statisticsList/statisticsList_01List.jsp?vwcd=MT_ZTITLE&parentId=A|publisher=Korean Statistical Information Service|publication-place=South Korea|year=2009|access-date=2011-03-21|page=262}}</ref>
|region2 = North Korea
|pop2 = 586 (2015)
|ref2 = <ref name="iom.int">{{cite web|url=https://www.iom.int/world-migration |title=World Migration | International Organization for Migration |publisher=Iom.int |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref>
|langs = [[English language|English]]{{·}}[[Hindi]]{{·}}Other [[Languages of India|Indian languages]]{{·}}[[Korean language|Korean]]
|rels = Majority [[Hinduism]]
|related = [[Indians in Japan]]{{·}}[[Indians in Russia]]
}}
[[file:Suriratna_2019_stamp_of_India.jpg|thumb|right|A commemorative [[Indian rupee|Rs.]] 25.00 postage stamp on Princess Suriratna (Queen Heo Hwang-ok ) was issued by India in 2019.]]
[[file:Queen_Heo_2019_stamp_of_India.jpg|thumb|right|A commemorative [[Indian rupee|Rs.]] 5.00 postage stamp on Queen Heo Hwang-ok (Princess Suriratna) was issued by India in 2019.]]

'''Indians in Korea''' consist of [[Indian diaspora|migrants diaspora]] from [[India]] to [[Korea]] and their locally born descendants. A majority of them live in [[Seoul]] while there are smaller populations living in other parts of Korea.

== History of Indian migration ==

===Heo Hwang-ok: the Indian Princess & Queen of Korea ===
{{Main|Memorial of Heo Hwang-ok, Ayodhya}}

According to the 11th century legendary chronicle [[Samguk Yusa]], [[Heo Hwang-ok]], the consort of [[Suro of Geumgwan Gaya]] was originally a princess from a kingdom called Ayuta. In the 20th century, Kim Byung-Mo, an anthropologist from the Hanyang University, identified Ayuta with [[Ayodhya]] in India based on phonetic similarity.<ref>{{cite book |author=Choong Soon Kim |title=Voices of Foreign Brides: The Roots and Development of Multiculturalism in Korea |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b43pR3Z8zTcC&pg=PA34 |year=2011 |publisher=AltaMira |isbn=978-0-7591-2037-2 |page=34 }}</ref> Heo Hwang-ok is considered an ancestor by several Korean lineages, which has led to Korean interest in Ayodhya, resulting in the construction of a [[Memorial of Heo Hwang-ok, Ayodhya|Memorial of Heo Hwang-ok]] there.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1205728.stm Korean memorial to Indian princess], 6 March 2001, [[BBC]]</ref><ref>[http://m.koreatimes.co.kr/phone/news/view.jsp?req_newsidx=219704 Legacy of Queen Suriratna], 6 Dec. 2016, [[The Korea Times]]</ref>

In 673 CE, Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, [[Yijing (monk)|Yijing]] who reached India, recorded that the people of [[Indian subcontinent]] were familiar with Korea's customs and beliefs and they regarded Koreans as "worshipers of the rooster". This concept about Koreans was grounded in a legend of the [[Silla]] dynasty.<ref>[https://www.ekoreajournal.net/issue/index2.htm?Idx=328# Korea Journal Vol.28. No.12 (Dec. 1988)]</ref>

===Malananta: the 4th century Indian Buddhist monk in Korea ===
{{Main|Malananta}}
[[File:Buddhist Expansion.svg|thumb|right|300px|[[Silk Road transmission of Buddhism|Buddhist expansion in Asia]], from Buddhist heartland in [[northern India]] (dark orange) starting 5th century BCE, to Buddhist majority realm (orange), and historical extent of Buddhism influences (yellow). [[Mahayana|Mahāyāna]] (red arrow), [[Theravada|Theravāda]] (green arrow), and [[Tantra|Tantric]]-[[Vajrayana|Vajrayāna]] (blue arrow). The overland and maritime "Silk Roads" were interlinked and complementary, forming what scholars have called the "great circle of Buddhism".<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |author-last=Acri |author-first=Andrea |date=20 December 2018 |title=Maritime Buddhism |url=https://oxfordre.com/religion/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.001.0001/acrefore-9780199340378-e-638 |encyclopedia=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion |location=[[Oxford]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.638 |isbn=9780199340378 |doi-access=free |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219153342/https://oxfordre.com/religion/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.001.0001/acrefore-9780199340378-e-638 |archive-date=19 February 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=30 May 2021}}</ref>]]

The two oldest extant histories of Korea [[Samguk yusa]] and [[Samguk Sagi|Samguk sagi]] record the following 3 monks among first to bring the [[Buddhist]] teaching, or [[Dharma]], to [[Korea]] in the 4th century during the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea|Three Kingdoms period]]. These mention the following monks: [[Malananta]] (मेघानंदा, Meghananda, Melananda or cloud monk)- an [[India]]n [[Buddhist]] monk who came via [[Serindian]] area of southern China's [[Jin Dynasty (265–420)|Eastern Jin Dynasty]]. He was received by the King [[Chimnyu of Baekje|Chimnyu]] of [[Baekje]] in the southern Korea in 384 CE. King adopted Buddhism and Buddhism became the state religion. Other two monks who introduced Buddhism to the remaining 2 parts of the Three Kingdoms were [[Shandao|Sundo]] - a monk from the northern Chinese state [[Former Qin]] who brought Buddhism to [[Goguryeo]] in northern Korea in 372 CE and [[Ado (monk)|Ado]] monk who brought Buddhism to [[Silla]] in central Korea.<ref>"Malananta bring Buddhism to Baekje" in ''Samguk Yusa'' III, Ha & Mintz translation, pp. 178-179.</ref><ref name=autogenerated9>{{Citation
| last=Kim
| first=Won-yong
| title=An Early Gilt-bronze Seated Buddha from Seoul
| journal=Artibus Asiae
| volume=23
| issue=1
| year=1960
| pages=67–71
| doi=10.2307/3248029
| jstor=3248029
}}, pg. 71</ref>

===Korean War===
{{Main|Parachute Regiment (India)}}

[[File:1953.9.1 인도군 중립감시단 인천외항 도착 (7445971822).jpg|thumb|Indian troops of the [[Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission]] disembarking at [[Incheon]], 1 September 1953.]]

While the [[Indian army]] did not get involved militarily in the [[Korean War]], they sent a medical unit, the 60 Parachute Field Ambulance, which served in Korea for a total of three and a half years (Nov 1950- May 1954), the longest single tenure by any military unit under the UN flag.

They were involved in providing medical cover alternately to the US Army/ROK forces and the Commonwealth Division under the UN Command as well as the local civilians, and earned the informal title, "The Maroon Angels"{{cn|date=December 2021}}. The unit also looked after the [[North Korea]]n POWs. The unit provided an ADS and a surgical team (7 officers and 5 other ranks) during [[Operation Tomahawk]], an airborne operation launched on 21 March 1951 by the US Army’s 187 Airborne Regimental Combat Team.

Towards the end of the Korean War in 1953, a reinforced [[brigade]] known as the Custodian Force of India was deployed for the repatriation of the prisoners of war and was deployed for almost two years (1953–54).

===After the Division of Korea===

[[South Korea]] has been gaining popularity among Indian expatriates. Since the 1970s, many Indians have been coming to the South Korea and now there are about 7,006 Indians as per International Migration Report, living and working in the country.

According to officials of the Indian mission in South Korea, over 1,000 engineers and software professionals have recently come to South Korea, working for large conglomerates such as [[LG]], [[Hyundai Group|Hyundai]] and [[Samsung]], which have today become household names back in India.<ref>[http://www.biztechreport.com/story/446-more-indian-techies-south-korea''More Indian Techies in South Korea''.]</ref><ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/111803/it-professionals-dominate-indian-diaspora.html''IT professionals dominate Indian diaspora in South Korea''.]</ref> There are also around 125 Indian scientists and post-doctoral research scholars working or conducting research at various institutions in the country. Indian companies are also making inroads in South Korea. The agreement between Indian and South Korea on IT will leverage the IT software capabilities of India and IT hardware capabilities of South Korea, resulting in an increased flow of IT professionals between the two countries.

===Skilled IT Professionals and Researchers===

Recently there has been influx of many skilled IT professionals and researchers due to investment in emerging technologies by major companies.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-samsung-elec-research-centre/samsung-electronics-to-set-up-ai-research-center-idUSKBN1DM0QN "Samsung Electronics to set up AI research center".]</ref><ref>[https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/corporate/samsung-tops-at-iit-campus-placements-while-microsoft-dips-in-its-hiring-numbers/55886345 "Samsung tops at IIT campus placements while Microsoft dips in its hiring numbers".]</ref> South Korean companies are now keen to employ Indian engineers and are offering them salaries that are above par even by western standards.<ref>[http://www.firstpost.com/business/samsung-places-10-iit-b-students-in-s-korea-for-rs-90-lakh-bonus-free-indian-food-1993589.html "Samsung places 10 IIT-B students in S Korea for 150,000 USD".]</ref><ref>[https://m.gadgetsnow.com/jobs/IIT-placements-Google-Samsung-offer-top-salaries/articleshow/17442348.cms"IIT placements: Google, Samsung offer top salaries".]</ref> The companies are also extending support for free housing and food.<ref>[http://www.firstpost.com/business/samsung-places-10-iit-b-students-in-s-korea-for-rs-90-lakh-bonus-free-indian-food-1993589.html "Samsung places 10 IIT-B students in S Korea for 150,000 USD".]</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Anupam Tripathi]], actor in [[Squid Game]]
*[[Shammi Rana]], Rapporteur in [[UNESCO]]

==Organizations and associations==

With close to ten thousands Indian population, Several organisations in South Korea support Indian community. Some notable communities which are active includes
1. Indian Students and Researchers in South Korea (ISRK) - represents close to 4000 researchers, Post Docs and students in Korea. They do various activities to support students communities.
2. Indians in Korea - Busan based organisation is known for organising Busan Holi festival every years.
3. IndiansInKorea" (also known as IIK) with more than 5000 members (www.indiansinkorea.com)
4. Indian Association of Korea with mainly professionals as members
5. Annapurna Indian Women's Association

==See also==
* [[Korean_Buddhism|Buddhism in Korea]]
* [[Hinduism in China]]
* [[Hinduism in Japan]]
* [[Hinduism in Korea]]
* [[Koreans in India]]
* [[Memorial of Heo Hwang-ok, Ayodhya]]
* [[India–South Korea relations]]
* [[India – North Korea relations]]
* [[List of Hindu temples outside India]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.indiansinkorea.com/ Indians in Korea]
*[http://indiansinkorea.net/ Indians in Korea Forum]

{{Immigrants and expatriates in Korea}}
{{NRI-PIO}}

[[Category:Indian diaspora by country|Korea]]
[[Category:Korean people of Indian descent| ]]
[[Category:Demographics of South Korea]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in South Korea|Indians]]

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Indians in Korea