Here's Why South Korea Is Looking Forward To Ram Janmabhoomi Temple In Ayodhya

South Korea has recently arisen as a powerhouse in terms of culture. From movies to series to cuisine to music - South Korea is everywhere. But little did one think that South Korea could have a link to India's very own abode of Lord Ram, Ayodhya.

South Korean Ambassador in India Chang Jae-Bok said Ayodhya is historically important in both ?India and South Korea.

South Korean Ambassador in India, Chang Jae-Bok

He said he looked forward to an invite for the inauguration of Ayodhya Ram Mandir.

An Ayodhya princess who married a South Korean king

An Ayodhya princess is believed to have "mothered" a dynasty in South Korea.

Once upon a time in the 1st century AD, there lived a princess in Ayodhya named Princess Suriratna, daughter of King Padmasen and Indumati. Padmasen ruled the ancient kingdom of Kausala, a region that extended from present-day UP to Odisha.

The king had dreamt of his daughter marrying Kim Suro of Korea. To fulfil the prophecy, he sent her along with an entourage on a boat to Korea. She married Kim Suro and came to be known as Queen Huh.

A commemorative postage stamp on the Queen released by India in 2019

The Ayodhya princess and Kim Suro originated a clan that came to be known as the Kim-Hae-Kim clan.

A monument in memory of Queen Huh is built on the banks of River Saryu in Korean tradition using a three-metre high stone weighing 7,500 kg, specially shipped from South Korea.

Ayodhya is important for both India & South Korea historically

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the South Korean Ambassador in India said, "Ayodhya is very important for both of us historically. The legend about an Indian princess marrying a Korean king 2000 years ago has an Ayodhya connection, as one of our history books has a mention of a princess from Ayuta."

He added, "I don't know if Ayuta is Ayodhya, but it's Ayuta in Korean language. It is generally assumed that Ayuta was Ayodhya or Ayodhya was Ayuta."

He noted that the central government should share the programme's details around the Ram temple's inauguration for it to receive full assurance of high-level participation from foreign countries.

Ram Mandir construction

The construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya began in 2020 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the Bhoomi puja for the upcoming shrine on August 5, 2020.

Representative image of the Ram mandir in Ayodhya

In February of that year, Prime Minister Modi announced the constitution of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra to oversee the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

On August 19 this year, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took stock of the ongoing construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Before this, he paid obeisance to Lord Ram at Ram Janamabhoomi in Ayodhya.

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