Chungju taps Indian teen as its 1st foreign honorary ambassador

The Chungju city government in North Chungcheong Province has appointed Samhith Koppula, a high school student of Indian nationality, as its first foreign honorary ambassador. This marks a step forward in the city’s efforts to promote international cultural exchange.

Koppula, born to Indian parents, arrived in Korea at just five months old and has spent nearly his entire school years in Chungju.

Reflecting on his memories, he shared that the friendships he formed and the experiences he enjoyed — from eating tteokbokki with friends to playing sports at school and studying in Korea’s educational environment — have all made Korea feel like his second home.

While he feels a deep connection to Korea, Koppula remains closely tied to his Indian roots.

"Even though I came to Korea when I was very young, my parents and other family members are all Indian, and I visit India during every school break," Koppula told The Korea Times. "So I do have my identity as Indian, but Korea definitely is my second home."

As an honorary ambassador, Koppula wishes to serve as a cultural bridge, promoting Chungju internationally and fostering connections with people from diverse backgrounds.

With a strong passion for languages, Koppula is fluent in Korean, English, Hindi and Telugu, primarily spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in southeastern India. He believes his multilingual skills will be a valuable asset for the international events the city hosts, such as the Chungju World Martial Arts Festival.

"With this skill, I would like to help connect people from different backgrounds and countries, especially when there’s an international event in the city."

City officials expect he will help deepen Korea-India cultural ties and raise global awareness of Chungju's historical and cultural significance through festivals and social media outreach.

"I believe there are many historic and cultural values that the city can promote to the international stage," Koppula said.

"It would be an honor to serve as a bridge between Chungju and the global community, and I hope to share the story of my second hometown with the world."

Now an 11th grader at an international school, Koppula dreams of becoming a doctor. He wants to pursue medical studies in the United States or Korea, where he aims to blend his multicultural identity with his academic ambitions.

"If I can get into a medical school in the U.S. or Korea, I hope to use my multicultural background to connect people across borders while pursuing a career in medicine to help others," he said.