New Delhi, April 20 (NationPress) On Monday, a formal ceremony welcomed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a warm reception to the South Korean leader upon his arrival.

Children dressed in traditional attire, carrying the South Korean flag alongside the Tricolour, joyfully greeted the visiting dignitary.

President Lee arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a three-day state visit.

Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra welcomed President Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung at the airport.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that the South Korean President's visit signifies an "important milestone" in enhancing the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

"President Lee was received by Shri Harsh Malhotra, MoS, Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. This visit marks a critical step in furthering the India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership," the Ministry stated in a post on X.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met the visiting President on Sunday.

"I am honored to meet President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea as he begins his State Visit to India. I appreciate his dedication to enhancing India-Korea relations across various domains," the EAM expressed on X, conveying confidence that his discussions with PM Modi will "further solidify our Special Strategic Partnership."

Later today, President Lee is set to engage in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi, where they will deliberate on strengthening cooperation in sectors like shipbuilding, trade, investment, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical and emerging technologies, cultural exchanges, and connections between the people.

The leaders will also discuss regional and global matters of shared interest, as noted by the MEA.

PM Modi is scheduled to host a lunch in honor of the visiting President.

President Lee will also engage in discussions with President Droupadi Murmu, who will host a banquet in his honor at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Later today, President Lee will pay his respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.

"India and the ROK enjoy a multifaceted partnership rooted in long-standing civilizational ties and mutual values of democracy and the rule of law. President Lee's visit highlights our shared aspiration to further reinforce existing cooperation while exploring new collaborative avenues of mutual interest," the MEA remarked.

Last November, PM Modi and the South Korean President had a meeting during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. This marks their second meeting in 2025, following discussions at the G7 Summit in Canada.