South Korean Ambassador Lee Seong-Ho has praised India’s BRICS chairship, calling New Delhi’s ability to secure consensus on the summit declaration during a turbulent global period a major diplomatic success.

He also highlighted India’s role as a leading voice for the Global South and expressed optimism about the future of India-South Korea relations.

The South Korean envoy congratulated India for its diplomacy and leadership during the BRICS Summit held in New Delhi on 12–13 September. He emphasised that India managed to reach a compromise on the summit declaration despite the highly tumultuous international environment. According to him, this achievement was already a significant success, reflecting India’s diplomatic skill in navigating complex global dynamics.

Lee Seong-Ho stated that India has been the leading voice for the Global South at a time when the world is facing serious challenges. He noted that the international community is relying on India’s leadership to advance stability and cooperation in these difficult times. He described India’s performance as “tremendous” and deserving of recognition.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Korea Education Fair in New Delhi, the envoy offered “big, big, big congratulations” to India for its diplomatic achievement. He stressed that India’s ability to pull off a compromise on the declaration was no easy task, but New Delhi managed to deliver results that strengthened the credibility of BRICS.

On bilateral relations, Lee Seong-Ho said India-South Korea ties are entering an exciting phase. He recalled that South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to India in April laid down a vision for the next five to ten years. Both leaders agreed on a roadmap to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, technology, defence, and education.

The envoy described the nature of India-South Korea relations as complementary and promising. He highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen existing cooperation and build new bridges between the two countries. He expressed confidence that within five to ten years, India and South Korea would emerge as among the best partners and closest friends in the 21st century.

Lee Seong-Ho’s remarks come at a time when India is consolidating its role as a key player in global governance.

The BRICS Summit under India’s chairship brought together leaders of the expanded 11-member grouping. The summit was held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” reflecting India’s vision of collective progress.

India’s hosting of the summit was significant as BRICS continues to expand and address issues of economic cooperation, development, technology, and governance. The summit sought to build consensus among its increasingly diverse membership, a task that India successfully managed despite geopolitical tensions.

The envoy’s comments also underline South Korea’s growing interest in strengthening ties with India, particularly in areas such as advanced technology, defence collaboration, and educational exchanges. 

With India positioning itself as a hub for innovation and resilience, South Korea sees opportunities to align its strategic vision with New Delhi’s leadership.

India’s diplomatic success at BRICS and the strengthening of India-South Korea relations highlight New Delhi’s rising stature in global affairs. The envoy’s optimism signals a deepening partnership that could reshape regional and global cooperation in the coming decade.

ANI