Koreans in Varanasi

Koreans initially began to migrate to India during the earlier part of the 1950s. The Korean Association of India was established during that time period by a trio of South Koreans who went into exile, right after their release from the imprisonment in their own country. The 1990s, however, showed the actual beginning and growth of the migration which grew into approximately 1200 people during the following years. By the 2000s, the size of the Korean community grew immensely and became the 25th largest Korean community in the entire world. Some of the areas in India which show significant growth of the Korean community are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, National Capital Region, Maharashtra, etc.
Varanasi.
Varanasi or Kashi or Benaras is one of the major religious cities in India, situated beside the banks of the Ganges river in the state of Uttar Pradesh which welcomes tourists from all over the world.
‘Little Korea’ in the streets of Varanasi.
Varanasi witnesses a huge numbers of Korean migratory people, due to their educational purposes fulfilled by the Benaras Hindu University, due to their bond with Buddhism and the legend of marital tie between Princess Heo of Ayodhya in India and King Suro of Gaya, an ancient kingdom in Korea. Places like Bengali Tola and some other parts of Varanasi are strewn with Korean style cafes, restaurants, K-Pop CD stores. A huge part of the Korean population is the students from Benaras Hindu University, studying about Indian arts and aesthetics.
Cafes and Korean cuisine.
There are plenty of Korean style minimalist cafes in Varanasi, some of which are run solely by Indians as well as jointly with their Korean friends or relatives.
Cultural exchange through music.
Varanasi also has K-Pop CD, poster shows. A huge variety of Koreans, especially people from young generation have shown their enthusiasm in learning classic Indian music instruments such as, ‘"tabla’" and ‘"sitar"’. Many of them are fluent in Hindi and thoroughly enjoy Indian art forms- cinema and music, etc. The similarity between musical instruments like the ‘"Kayagum’" or ‘"Gayageum"’, an authentic Korean musical instrument containing 12 strings and the ‘"Sitar"’, an Indian instrument containing 18 or 19 or even 21 strings also helped by being an extension of the harmonious cultural exchange.
Learning the language.
BHU offers diploma courses in Korean language, enabling Indian students to pursue an education in the language.
Extension of India in South Korea.
A group of students from the prestigious Wonkwang Digital University or WDU from Iksan, South Korea, came to BHU to attend an exchange programme on ‘Ayurvedic’ and ‘Yoga’ and  upon their return, established a club named ‘Ganga’ in WDU. The university includes the Department of Yoga Studies and Meditation. Almost every year, a huge batch of Korean students come to BHU for the exchange programme, initiating the joint signing of MOU in the year 2005.