Korean Cultural Center India, in association with Juggernaut Books, hosted a special Book launch event with the authors of Seoulmates, Vasudev Tumbe and Sudha Huzurbazar Tumbe, on April 22 to mark the release of the book.

The event, held at the Korean Cultural Center India auditorium, was attended by students and distinguished guests, including Mr. Skand Ranjan Tayal, who served as the Indian Ambassador to Korea from 2008 to 2011, and Ms. Sripriya Ranganathan, former Ambassador of India to Korea from 2018 to 2022.

The event began with an opening speech by Kim Min Sun, Minister Counsellor. She said, "The book offers a rich and dynamic experience and perspective — from adapting to Korean society and learning about Korean history to working with a Korean company, learning the language, and traveling around Korea. I am quite sure that Ms. Sudha’s book will spark some interesting ‘suda’ (meaning ‘talk’ in Korean) about Korea. I believe this book will serve as a great introduction to Korea for all of you."

Speaking on the occasion, Skand Ranjan Tayal, who served as the Indian Ambassador to South Korea between 2008 and 2011, said, "The people of India and Korea are truly soulmates in a way." He added, "Although India and Korea are very close in terms of their history and culture, the people of the two nations still have a lot to learn about each other’s cultures. In that sense, this book will go on to play a very important role in the coming years, as it tries to foster a deeper understanding of Korean culture and its people. The real force, psyche, and culture behind Korea’s success come through in this book."

Sripriya Ranganathan, former Ambassador of India to Korea, shared that the book brought back wonderful memories of her four years in Seoul. She also mentioned that the book provides Indian readers with a detailed cultural perspective of Korea.

After the opening speech, the second part of the event, a Book launch event by the Indian author couple, began. They shared their vivid experiences from living in Korea for six years. The discussion covered topics such as the cultural differences between India and Korea, the aspects of Korean culture that left a lasting impression, and the inspiration behind writing the book.

The event was particularly insightful for the Korean language students and provided them a practical glimpse into life in Korea as an Indian citizen. The students who participated showed a lot of interest in the book, and there was lively interaction with the authors.