UP to build memorial to South Korean queen in Ayodhya

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government will build a memorial to South Korean queen Heo Hwang-ok in Ayodhya. She was a princess of Ayodhya before her marriage to a Korean ruler.

A decision on the memorial was made by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav when a delegation of Central Karak Clan Society of Korea, led by its chairman Kim Ki, met him in the state capital on Tuesday.

Yadav asked the delegation to expedite the proposed memorial's design and send it to the state government so that work on the project could begin.

A delegation from South Korea visited Faizabad in 2000, after which a 'sister city' agreement was signed between Kim Hay city of South Korea and Faizabad. 

Under this agreement, the memorial to the queen was to be built in Ayodhya, which is visited by thousands of Korean tourists every year. 

Members of the South Korea clan believe that 2,000 years ago, Princess Suriratna (Heo Hwang-ok) from Ayodhya travelled to Korea in 48 AD and married Karak kingdom ruler Kim Suro. 

Seven million Koreans, representing the Kimhae Kim clan, Hur clan and Incheon Yi clan, trace their ancestry to the royal union.