New Delhi: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea-kyung, visited Rajghat on Monday to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. The couple offered floral tributes at the memorial, marking a significant gesture of respect and reflecting the growing diplomatic and cultural ties between India and South Korea.
Earlier in the day, the visiting President was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was received by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ceremonial event featured a vibrant display, with children dressed in traditional attire waving the national flags of India and South Korea.
President Lee arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a three-day official state visit. He was received at the airport by Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the visit as an important milestone in advancing the “Special Strategic Partnership” between the two countries.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met President Lee shortly after his arrival and held discussions on strengthening bilateral relations. He welcomed the visit and expressed confidence that the upcoming talks with Prime Minister Modi would further deepen cooperation across sectors.
Later today, President Lee is scheduled to hold extensive bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Modi. The talks are expected to focus on key areas such as shipbuilding, trade, investment, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical and emerging technologies, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Regional and global issues of mutual interest will also be part of the discussions.
Following the talks, Prime Minister Modi will host a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary. President Lee will also meet President Droupadi Murmu, who will host a state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The MEA emphasized that India and South Korea share a multifaceted partnership rooted in ancient civilizational links and common democratic values. It further stated that the visit reflects a shared commitment to strengthening existing cooperation and expanding ties in emerging areas of mutual interest.
The visit builds on continued high-level engagement between the two sides, following previous meetings between Prime Minister Modi and President Lee in 2025 at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg and the G7 Summit in Canada.