The South Korean Ambassador to India, Chang Jae-Bok on Tuesday said that there is a historical importance of Ayodhya in South Korea and India. Highlighting the significance of Ayodhya the ambassador said that the country would like to be part of the Ram Mandir’s inauguration ceremony. Claiming that an Indian princess married a Korean king, the South Korean Ambassador said that as per a legendary story, an Indian Princess married a Korean King and this happened 2000 years ago. During a press conference, he said that Ayodhya is important for both countries because a princess of the "Ayuta" kingdom, named Suriratna, in India had married a South Korean king about 2000 years ago.
Chang said that the legendary story is mentioned in historical books in South Korea which talks about the Ayuta kingdom probably modern day Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, India, though he doesn’t know for sure.
Story of Princess Suriratna
According to South Korean legends, Princess Suriratna, who is known as Heo Hwang-ok in the country, travelled to Korea about 2000 years ago and started the Karak dynasty by marrying King Kim Suro. According to BBC, a popular South Korean book Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), which has fables and historical stories mentions that Queen Hwang-ok was the princess of the "Ayuta" kingdom.
King Kim Suro and Queen Hwang-ok had 10 children and they lived to be over 150 years old.
An anthropologist, Kim Byung-mo Ayuta, confirmed this widely held belief that Ayutha was actually Ayodhya as they match phonetically.
Although, there still is no clear evidence that showed the princess existed.
Impact In India
In 2000, an agreement was signed that Ayodhya and Gimhae, a city in South Gyeongsang Province, were sister cities. In the following year, more than 100 historians and government representatives including, the North Korean ambassador to India, unveiled Queen Hwang-ok's memorial on the west bank of the River Saryu in Ayodhya, reported BBC.
South Korea Wants To Be Part Of Ram Mandir Inauguration Ceremony
South Korean Ambassador in India Chang Jae-Bok, said that a high-level participation is likely if the Government of India does extend an invitation to the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya which is set for January 2024, according to the news agency ANI.
The South Korean envoy said that a high-level attendance can only be guaranteed if the Government of India and Uttar Pradesh elaborate on the programme already. However, they don’t have any information yet. He said that it would be close to the New Year even a month before high level officials including minister “will have difficulty in travelling to foreign countries”.
“The central government or UP government should elaborate the program of Ram Temple inauguration. We will work on that and attend the Ram temple inauguration if the government of India issues an invitation,” the ambassador said.
During the press conference on Tuesday, the South Korean Ambassador in India also stated that India and Korea are working on a migration and mobility partnership agreement proposed by the Indian government and said that Korea is hoping to finalize it soon.