India, South Korea Explore Cooperation in Digital Governance and Public Sector Innovation

By Mahima Katal

New Delhi, June 20: India and South Korea have discussed expanding cooperation in digital governance, public administration and citizen-focused service delivery, as the two countries seek to deepen collaboration on government innovation and emerging technologies.

The discussions took place during a meeting between South Korean Interior and Safety Minister Yun Hojung and India's Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh in New Delhi on Saturday.

According to India's Ministry of Personnel, the two leaders held more than an hour of bilateral talks accompanied by senior officials from both countries.

The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in areas including digital transformation of public services, the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence in governance, capacity building for civil servants, citizen participation in policymaking and effective public grievance redressal systems.

Singh said the two governments are working toward finalising a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting collaboration in public administration and government innovation.

"India and South Korea are vibrant democracies that share common values, a rich heritage and a commitment to the rule of law," Singh said during the meeting.

The Indian minister highlighted New Delhi's recent advances in digital governance, including technology-driven public service platforms designed to improve transparency, accountability and service delivery. He cited initiatives such as the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) and digital certification systems for pensioners.

The South Korean delegation shared its experience in smart governance, digital public services and disaster and safety management, areas in which South Korea is widely regarded as a global leader.

Both sides emphasized the need to strengthen institutional partnerships and people-to-people exchanges to address emerging governance challenges in an increasingly digital world.

The discussions come amid growing cooperation between the two Asian democracies across sectors including trade, investment, technology, maritime affairs and culture.

Singh also referred to longstanding historical and cultural links between India and Korea, including the widely cited connection between Princess Suriratna of Ayodhya and King Suro of the ancient Gaya confederacy.

The meeting concluded with both countries reaffirming their commitment to closer cooperation in building efficient, transparent and citizen-centric governance systems.