- Lee Jae-myung’s India visit prompts a 2028 festival plan to boost K-culture ties with the country.
- Various K-culture events, often associated with the Korean Cultural Centre India, and the rising uptake of the TOPIK test showcase the structured growth of the Korean Wave in India.
- Entertainment giants like HYBE are expanding into India’s creative market, depicting a pivot from mere consumption to co-creation of a solid creative economy.
K-culture, including K-pop and K-Drama, is getting a new boost as the South Korean President, Lee Jae Myung, visited India on Monday (April 20, 2026) to create new trade deals and strengthen diplomatic ties. Interestingly, India was already a prime consumer of South Korean skincare products, food items and content. But now it will be further solidified as the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, announced that both countries will organize an India–South Korea Friendship Festival in 2028 to deepen their cultural ties. Although the festival is announced, the associated authorities have yet to confirm if K-pop artists will be a part of it or which specific acts may join the roster.
What is the Hallyu Wave and How is it Growing in India?
Notably, the Korean Cultural Centre India in New Delhi does organize events such as Rang De Korea. The festival reportedly draws many people interested in the Hallyu or the Korean Wave, which once swept the country with PSY’s Gangnam Style in 2012. The song introduced K-culture to mainstream Indian audiences. Such localized cultural events, along with the upcoming national festival, indeed bolster the strong cultural and economic relationship between India and South Korea, an idea that is also echoed by South Korea's Ambassador, Lee Seong‑ho. According to him, cultural exchange is a key aspect of bilateral ties, besides trade and investment.
PM Modi on Kpop popularity in India: What did PM Modi say about India–South Korea relations?
Speaking to the public via the press, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “K-pop and K-dramas are getting extremely popular in India. Similarly, the recognition of Indian cinema and culture is growing in Korea too. We are happy that President Lee also appreciates Indian cinema.”
Remarkably, PM Modi's K-pop in India speech highlights the recent consumption rates of K-pop and K-dramas, which are particularly high among younger individuals. The interest in such K-content also pushes them towards learning Korean professionally. In many cases, such individuals do reach an advanced, professional level of communicating in the language, sometimes even clearing the TOPIK, the official, standardized examination held by the National Institute for International Education. The test is conducted to judge the Korean language skills of non-native speakers.
India South Korea Cultural Ties: Trade, Tech, and Creative Economy Push
Alongside the cultural sector, the Indo-Korea meet aimed to deepen their cooperation in technology, AI, semiconductors and other strategic areas, thereby setting up an ambitious target of doubling their trade from $27 billion to $50 billion USD by 2030. “We are laying the foundation for the success stories of the next decade,” said Modi. Notably, the two nations signed several MoUs, including accords related to the creative industries like film, animation, and gaming sectors.
Modi quoted India's Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who decades ago described Korea as the “Lamp of the East.” “Korea is an important partner to realise our resolve of a developed India 2047,” said the Indian Prime Minister. “Let us, through our partnership, pave the way for progress and prosperity not only for both countries but for the entire world,” he added further.
PM Modi Cultural Diplomacy Korea Brings K-pop Giants to India?
This South Korea India cultural event announcement is an important step for both countries on the cultural and creative fronts. The announcement comes as K-pop agencies like HYBE set up their structures in India. Interestingly, HYBE has already begun with a localized audition drive in India to create a global girl group from the country. Meanwhile, G-Dragon’s agency, Galaxy Corp., was also reported to be gauging the Indian market last year. But as per the latest report, the entity, as of now, has established a hub in Dubai to bolster tech-driven entertainment in the Global South.
Additionally, last December, the Stray Kids agency, JYP Entertainment, was reported to be entering the Indian market. However, more details remain to be made public. Nevertheless, the JYP founder and the former member of the company’s board, Park Jin-young, was recently seen at an Indian K-pop festival as a judge in Delhi, alongside the presence of the First Lady of South Korea and HYBE India head, Lee Woo-chang.
The HYBE India head and Park Jin-young’s attendance marked an important milestone. This is because Park Jin-young recently became the Co-Chair of the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange of South Korea, and HYBE India head, Lee Lee Woo-chang met an Assam government executive in December 2025. This indicates that the K-pop and the wider K-culture might have some bigger plans for India that might not include only a market capture but also a collaborative approach for global domination.
Could More Indo-Korea Cultural Events Take Place in the Coming Days?
Such India-Korea friendship events could bring a fresh Hallyu wave in the country in 2026 and more visits of such entertainment moguls with diplomatic ties to culture and creativity. Probably, after the India-Korea relations 2028 event, both countries can experience more such events. This could either take place via various cultural centers or with the help of a greater national backing from both ends. Nonetheless, people and industry observers alike are anxiously waiting for what lies in the future.
