When I moved to Korea in 2020, I knew almost no one here. Five years later, the Indian community in Korea feels like family — and building that community has become one of the most rewarding parts of my life outside engineering.
IITAAK — from Public Relations to President
I joined the IIT Alumni Association of Korea (IITAAK) soon after arriving, and served as Vice President (Public Relations) from 2021 before taking over as President in 2023. What started as a small circle of IIT alumni has grown into an active community that meets throughout the year — from our Diwali camping trips to networking dinners, hikes, and collaborations with businesses, academia and the Indian Embassy in Seoul.
India Day Seoul 2026
The highlight of this year was India Day Seoul 2026 — the Embassy of India’s first large-scale outdoor festival, held on May 16, 2026 at the Neoreundeul Lawn Area, Yeouido Hangang Park. I wore several hats that day: host and Emcee on the main stage, technical coordinator for the festival, and manager of our IITAAK-run Fun Cinema & VFX Booth — a playful celebration of Indian film culture where visitors became the stars of their own Bollywood-style movie moments, posing with iconic landmarks and show-stopping visual effects.
Watching Korean families, students and the Indian diaspora laugh together in front of a green screen was everything community work should feel like.
Speaking at the India–Korea Forum on AI
In July 2026 I had the honour of speaking at the India–Korea Forum on AI 2026 at Ewha Womans University, Seoul — a day-long forum under the theme “Fostering India–Korea AI Cooperation in a New Digital Era”, bringing together policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs and industry experts from both countries. Sharing a stage dedicated to the two countries I call home, on the technology I work on every day, is a memory I will keep for a long time.
And of course, every year there are the IITAAK anniversary and year-end celebrations — evenings of food, culture and laughter that remind all of us why this community matters.
Beyond alumni — IIK and ISRK
This year I also took on two new roles: Core Team Member of Indians in Korea (IIK), one of the largest communities of the Indian diaspora here, and Executive Secretary of Indian Students and Researchers in Korea (ISRK), supporting the students and researchers who are just beginning their journey in Korea the way I once did.
If you are an Indian in Korea — a professional, a student, a researcher, or just curious — come say hi at one of our events, or simply reach out. The community is always open, and there is a place for you in it.
]]>