India and South Korea on Saturday discussed possible cooperation in digital governance, e-governance, public administration, capacity building and citizen-centric service delivery during a meeting between Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh and Republic of Korea Minister of Interior and Safety Yun Hojung.
The two leaders, accompanied by their delegations, held bilateral talks for over an hour, according to a statement issued by the Personnel Ministry.
The discussions covered the digital transformation of government services, the use of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence in public administration, training of civil servants, citizen participation in governance and best practices in grievance redressal.
Singh said the ministries concerned in both countries are in active discussion to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation in public administration and government innovation. Welcoming the Korean delegation, he highlighted India’s progress in digital governance, public service delivery and grievance redressal mechanisms under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The minister said India and Korea are vibrant democracies with shared values, heritage and a commitment to the rule of law. He also referred to the historical ties between the two countries through the marital connection between Princess Suriratna of Ayodhya and King Suro of the then Gaya confederacy, and said these bonds continue to hold strong resonance.
Singh also spoke about the recent visit of President Lee Jae Myung, which he said led to forward-looking outcomes across sectors such as trade and investment, ports and maritime affairs, digital and fintech, science and technology, culture and sports.
He highlighted India’s initiatives including the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System portal, the Digital Life Certificate for pensioners and the use of technology-enabled governance platforms to improve service delivery and transparency.
The Korean side shared its experience in smart governance, digital public services, and disaster and safety management, the statement said. Both sides also underlined the importance of stronger people-to-people contacts and institutional partnerships to address emerging governance challenges.
Referring to the talks being held on the eve of International Yoga Day, Singh said yoga is gaining popularity in the Republic of Korea and invited the Korean delegation to take part in the celebrations.
The meeting ended on what the statement described as a positive note, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening India-Republic of Korea cooperation to promote efficient, transparent and citizen-centric governance.
– Ends
