India, April 19 -- As South Korean President Lee Jae Myung starts his India visit on Sunday, it is time to take a look at India-Korea relations. Nearly a decade after India and the Republic of Korea elevated their relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership, official discourse in both countries has consistently emphasized the deepening of bilateral ties and an increasing convergence of strategic interests. However, this optimistic narrative is not fully borne out by developments on the ground. Despite measurable progress in select domains, the partnership remains constrained by multiple variables that continue to hinder its realization to its full potential.

As the regional security and economic environment undergoes rapid transforma...