India–Republic of Korea naval exercise: INS Sahyadri arrives at Busan

28 October 2026 · English Defence

Topics: Defence, Energy, Industry & Parliament · 28 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

Indian Navy stealth frigate INS Sahyadri arrived at Busan Naval Harbour on 26 Oct 2026 for the India–Republic of Korea (South Korea) Navy bilateral exercise (IN–RoKN). The harbour phase has professional interactions, cross-deck visits, cross-training and sports; the ship's Commanding Officer will call on senior RoKN officials. In the sea phase, the ship will carry out coordinated maritime drills with ROKS Munmu the Great. Before this, the ship took part in INDRA 2026 at Vladivostok, Russia (13–18 Oct) and left on 20 Oct.

Key facts

Background

• India–South Korea ties: full diplomatic relations in 1973; the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in force from 1 Jan 2010; upgraded to a 'Special Strategic Partnership' during PM Modi's Seoul visit in May 2015.
• History: in 1929 Rabindranath Tagore praised Korea as 'The Lamp of the East'. In the Korean War (1950–53) India sent the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance; after the 1953 armistice, Lt Gen. K.S. Thimayya chaired the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC) for prisoners of war, and Maj. Gen. S.P.P. Thorat led the Custodian Force (India).
• Geography: Busan, at the south-eastern tip of the Korean peninsula, is South Korea's largest port and second-largest city. The Korea Strait (with Tsushima island in the middle) separates Korea from Japan. The Yellow Sea lies to the west of the peninsula and the Sea of Japan (East Sea) to the east.
• Policy: 'Look East' policy – 1991, PM P.V. Narasimha Rao; upgraded to 'Act East' in 2014; Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) in 2019. Eastern Fleet ships are regularly deployed to the South China Sea and the Pacific.

Tamil Nadu link: this news has no direct Tamil Nadu link. But Tamil Nadu is a key base for South Korean firms – Hyundai Motor India's car plant at Irungattukottai (near Sriperumbudur) and Samsung's electronics plant at Sriperumbudur.

Source: Indian Navy / PIB release – India Education Diary, Orissa Diary, 28 Oct 2026; The Hans India, 23 Oct 2026 (INDRA); PIB, 14 Oct 2025 (first edition)

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