Senior presidential secretary for public relations Yoon Young-chan gives a briefing about the telephone call between President Moon Jae-in and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the Chunchugwan press center of Cheong Wa Dae on May 11.

By Yoon Sojung

Photos = Jeon Han

“함께하면 성공합니다." "Together we succeed.” 

So said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Korean via Twitter on May 11 to express his special friendliness for Korea`s new president, after having a phone call with President Moon Jae-in. 

In the Tweeted message, the Indian leader said, "Just spoke with my friend President Moon Jae-in of Korea. Wished him every success & invited him to visit India soon."

Calling President Moon “my friend,” Prime Minister Modi wrote, "Together we succeed."

His Twitter message, written in both Korean and English, attracted a lot of attention, gaining 10,642 likes as of 11 a.m. on May 11. 

Earlier that day, senior presidential secretary for public relations Yoon Young-chan said that President Moon received a phone call from Prime Minister Modi to celebrate his inauguration, and that the two leaders confirmed their willingness to strengthen Korea-India cooperation. 

President Moon told the Indian prime minister that, "I saw your Twitter message last night, written in Korean, too, to celebrate my inauguration as president," expressing his gratitude. 

"I hope your Act East diplomatic push can help expand India’s international status," said President Moon.

According to Presidential Secretary Yoon, Prime Minister Modi told President Moon that he "considered the Korea-India relationship to be a very important one when he was serving as a governor in the past." 

"I always emphasized that Korea is a model for India’s economic development," said the Indian leader, quoted by Yoon. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tweeted in Korean and English after having a telephone conversation with President Moon Jae-in on May 11. (Prime Minister Modi’s Twitter account.)

***