South Korea’s President Lee Pays Tribute To Gandhi, Holds Key Talks In India

New Delhi, April 20: Lee Jae Myung on Monday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, underscoring shared values of peace and non-violence between India and South Korea.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the gesture reflects a commitment to global harmony and strengthens the symbolic foundation of bilateral ties.

Earlier in the day, President Lee was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was received by Droupadi Murmu and Narendra Modi.

The South Korean President, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a three-day state visit, was earlier welcomed at the airport by Harsh Malhotra along with First Lady Kim Hea Kyung.

S. Jaishankar also met President Lee, highlighting the importance of expanding cooperation across multiple domains. The MEA described the visit as a key milestone in advancing the India–South Korea Special Strategic Partnership.

Later in the day, President Lee is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening collaboration in shipbuilding, trade, investment, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and other critical and emerging technologies. Regional and global issues will also be on the agenda.

Prime Minister Modi will host a luncheon in honour of the visiting leader, while President Murmu is set to host a state banquet. The visit also includes business engagements and cultural interactions aimed at deepening people-to-people ties.

The ongoing high-level engagement builds on recent interactions between the two leaders at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg and the G7 Summit in Canada, reflecting sustained momentum in bilateral relations anchored in shared democratic values and expanding economic cooperation.