A 2000-year-old shared history with Ayodhya brings out the long-standing relations between South Korea and India
The Ayodhya connection to South Korea is a story of royalty, bringing together of cultures in marriage and how the city Ayodhya cam to be known as Ayuta in South Korea.
As the legend, accepted as part of their history in both India and South Korea, says, after Princess Suriratna’s parents in Ayodhya saw a dream of a king looking for a bride in far off land of South Korea, they sent her off with presents for the King Suro from Ayodhya in around 48 AD. King Suro was the founder of the Karak dynasty in Korea in 42 AD. Princess Suriratna soon after reaching Korea, married King Suro, and then came to be known as Queen Heo in the region.
Several cultural exchanges between India and South Korea have been made after the independence of both these countries to explore this cultural heritage. Raja Ayodhya Bimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra who is also referred to as the ‘King of Ayodhya’ and currently a member of Ram Janmabhoomi Theertha Kshetra Trust, had recalled in an interview that in 1996, a delegation from Inje University visited Ayodhya to discover more about the lineage of Queen Heo. Then in 1999, he was also invited to visit the capital of South Korea, Seoul where he was welcomed with the highest of recognitions.
Then even in 2001, the Uttar Pradesh government had established the Queen Huh [Heo] Memorial Park in Ayodhya in collaboration with the Gimhae City in South Korea. The park is a sprawling feature spread out over 2000 square meters has a meditation hall, pavilions dedicated to the South Korean queen and king, pathways, a fountain, murals, and audio-video facilities. Several descendants of Queen Heo from the Karak Dynasty have been making visits to the park since then.
In continuation with the same tradition of deepening this cultural tie between the two countries and as a means of further highlighting the shared historical connection of South Korea to Ayodhya, Kim Chil-su from South Korea, a member of the Queen Heo dynasty has also been extended an invitation to the ‘pranpratishta’ ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple. The South Korean ambassador to India, Chang Jae-Bok, had also acknowledged that Ayodhya, which they know as Ayuta, was “very important” for both the countries.
