Director Of Global Diplomats Forum Proposes Building Lord Ram Temple In South Korea

Director of Global Diplomats Forum, Korea Zena Chung, is visiting India for discussions with various authorities and organisations connected with the building of the Ayodhya Temple. 

She is proposing to construct a similar temple in South Korea, specifically in the City of Gimhae. A press conference is being held at 06:00 PM on 18-04-23 in New Delhi to address this proposal.

Chung previously produced a documentary in 2020 about the well-known legend in both Korea and India of Princess Suri Ratna of Ayodhya. The legend goes that Princess Suri Ratna was the sister of Lord Ram and had travelled by sailship to Korea, married King Kim Suro, and came to be called Queen Heo Hwang-ok in 48AD. Many Koreans trace their ancestry to the legendary princess. There is a wonderful memorial and shrine in the city of Gimhae, South Korea, in memory of the Queen and King, which is visited by hundreds of Indians as well.

The proposal for constructing a similar temple in Korea has been initiated by Ms. Chung, who has written to the President of the Republic of Korea, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Mayor of the City of Gimhae. This proposal has the full support of Dr. G.V. Rao, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India and Vice-President of India of International Law, who has also consented to be a Director and an Office-bearer of the Global Diplomats Forum in India.

In November 2018, the First Lady of Korea, Sook Jung Kim, along with the Minister of Culture and Tourism, attended the foundation laying ceremony for the upgradation and renovation of the Queen Heo memorial park in Ayodhya by Yogi Adityanath, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. In March 2016, a 38-member South Korean delegation made a proposal to develop the memorial park further, which was accepted by the Chief Minister. On October 23, 2022, the park was fully renovated and thrown open to the public in the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Sh. Narendra Modi.

The mayors of the city of "Ayodhya" in India, and the city of "Gimhae" in South Korea signed an international "Sister City" bond in March 2001 to formalize the relationship and encourage cultural and mutual development. With the proposal for a similar temple in Korea, it is expected that this bond between the two cities will only grow stronger.

Zena Chung
Zena Chung, a Korean Canadian based in Seoul, works as a peace ambassador for the UN Peace Keepers Federal Council (UNPKFC), a goodwill ambassador for the International Human Rights Protection Services and a senior adviser to the UN Habitat Korea Committee. She is the co-founder of the Korean-American Businessmen Friendship Forum (KABFF). She is also the advisor to the Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, in South Korea.