‘More research needed to study Korea-TN link’

Speaking after inaugurating the Conference on World Tamil  Research, organised by the Tamil Research Foundation (TRF) and International Tamil Cultural Research (ITCR) Foundation here, he appreciated the interest and passion dedicated to Korean studies, especially on the time-honoured relationship between Korea and TN.

Stating that Korea and India has at least 2,000 years of history of exchange, he said: “However, if we use a time-machine to go back to the ancient times, we will probably find much more evidences than we have now.” Noting that the kinship relation between Korea and India started 2,000 years ago from the first international marriage, he said: “According to a Korean history book, an Indian princess named ‘Suriratna’ from Ayodhya came to Korea and married KIM Su-ro, the first King of Gaya Kingdom located in the southern part of Korean peninsula.”

“Today, there are millions of Koreans, descendants of King Kim Su-ro and Queen Huh Huang-ok, including me, who can trace back their lineage to this union,” he added. Recalling the visit of Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook to India last November, Hyung Tae Kim said during the visit, she attended the ‘Queen Huh Memorial Park groundbreaking ceremony’ in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.

“The UP government provided 10,000 sq metre land for the museum and the memorial of Queen Huh. It is expected to be a hot tourist attraction,” he added.

Observing that TN may have had a stronger relationship with Queen Huh than any other region in India, he said: “Reflecting evidences related to ancient trades and cultural exchanges between the southern area of Korean peninsula and TN, we have to put more of our energy to find out what had happened between Korea and TN and India 2,000 years ago.”

He said this close relationship was further strengthened when Buddhism traversed its holy journey from India to Korea in the fourth century. Stressing on the need to study the Indo-Korean history of exchange with more imagination, as there must be so many mysteries waiting to be found, he hoped that all the prominent academics working for World Tamil Research would further find out and cultivate the firm foundation of ‘mutual understanding’ between TN and Korea.