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South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung wave to welcomers as they step off Code One at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar on July 9 during their state visit to Mongolia. / Courtesy of Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung, who is currently on a state visit to Mongolia, will attend the South Korea-Mongolia Business Forum on July 9 alongside Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. President Lee plans to call for an expansion of win-win cooperation models and a stronger, mutually beneficial economic partnership across key sectors including critical minerals, energy, and infrastructure.

"President Lee will attend the South Korea-Mongolia Business Forum held in Ulaanbaatar," Cheong Wa Dae Senior Press Secretary Kang Yoo-jung announced in a written briefing.

According to Cheong Wa Dae, around 300 government officials and business leaders from both nations are expected to attend the event. The South Korean delegation includes more than 180 representatives from major companies in critical minerals, retail, consumer goods, and digital technology. Notable attendees include LS Holdings Chairman Koo Ja-eun, POSCO Holdings Chairman Chang In-hwa, SK Vice Chairman Lee Hyung-hee, LG CNS CEO Hyun Shin-gyun, GS Retail CEO Huh Seo-hong, E-Mart CEO Han Chae-yang, BGF Retail Vice Chairman Hong Jung-kuk, Hanwha Investment & Securities CEO Chang Byung-ho, and KakaoBank CEO Yun Ho-young.

On the Mongolian side, more than 120 prominent figures from the mining, retail, and financial sectors will be present. Key attendees include MCS Group Chairman J. Odjargal, Tavan Bogd Group Chairman Ts. Baatersaikhan, MAK Group Chairwoman N. Tselmuun, Sky Hypermarket Chairman Sukhbaataryn Bat-Ushikh, and Khan Bank CEO R. Munkhtuya.

The business leaders at the forum will explore ways to broaden economic collaboration, with multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) set to be signed in areas such as critical minerals, energy, retail, consumer goods, and digital platforms. The South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy and his Mongolian counterparts will witness the signing ceremony.

Earlier in the day, President Lee arrived at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar aboard Code One. Visiting Mongolia for a three-day state visit until July 11 at the invitation of President Khürelsükh, President Lee will launch his official diplomatic itinerary starting with a welcoming ceremony later this afternoon.

This marks the first state visit by a South Korean president to Mongolia in 15 years, since the Lee Myung-bak administration in 2011. Following their upcoming summit, the two leaders plan to announce a joint declaration charting a "Golden Age of South Korea-Mongolia Relations" after finalizing the specific wording.

                                                                                                       Park Young-hoon