South Korean President Lee Attends Mongolia's Naadam Festival as Guest of Honor

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung participated in the opening ceremony of Mongolia's largest traditional festival, Naadam, on July 11 (local time). He attended the event at the National Sports Stadium in Ulaanbaatar with his wife, Kim Hye-kyung, as the guest of honor, according to a written briefing from Cheong Wa Dae Senior Secretary for Public Relations Kang Yoo-jeong.

The Naadam festival is a national event commemorating Mongolia's spirit of freedom and independence. It includes traditional nomadic sports such as wrestling, horse racing, and archery. Mongolia annually invites top leaders from various countries as guests of honor. This year marks the first time a South Korean leader has received such an invitation.

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh expressed his pleasure in hosting President Lee as the guest of honor for the Naadam opening ceremony. He conveyed his expectation that this event would further strengthen bilateral relations between South Korea and Mongolia. As the approximately 110-minute opening ceremony, featuring equestrian performances and other cultural displays, concluded, two flag bearers carrying the South Korean and Mongolian national flags waved to the presidential couple. President Lee and his wife responded with warm smiles and applause.

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President Lee is delighted to be invited as the guest of honor for this year's Naadam opening ceremony, and we expect this occasion to further advance Korea-Mongolia relations.