India's new ambassador to South Korea is Gourangalal Das.

Gourangalal Das, a senior Indian Foreign Service officer, was named India's next ambassador to South Korea, a crucial East Asian strategic partner, in a major diplomatic move. At a pivotal moment when South Korea is becoming more significant in trade, technology, defense, and regional stability, and India is fortifying its relations throughout the Indo-Pacific, the appointment was made. Das now heads the delicate East Asia Division in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as a Joint Secretary. He is well-positioned for his next role in Seoul thanks to his experience handling high-stakes negotiations, particularly with China.Indian Foreign Service (IFS) batch: 1999. Present Position: Joint Secretary, MEA, New Delhi, East Asia Division. Notable Contribution: Maintained the Eastern Ladakh border impasse, which has been going on since 2020, through talks between China and India. Das has played a key role in establishing India's diplomatic posture in the area as head of the East Asia Division, including interactions with China, Japan, the Koreas, and ASEAN nations.

This appointment reflects India’s larger Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific strategy, which aim to deepen engagement with East and Southeast Asia. By assigning a senior official well-versed in East Asian affairs, India signals its intent to, Strengthen strategic cooperation with South Korea. Maintain a balanced diplomatic approach in a region increasingly influenced by US-China tensions. Advance supply chain diversification, especially in semiconductors and electronics. Das’s experience with China also brings valuable perspective to regional diplomacy, where Korean Peninsula tensions and China’s regional assertiveness remain core concerns.