President Lee Visits Lee Tae-jun Memorial in Mongolia

President Lee Jae-myung visited the Lee Tae-jun Memorial and Park in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on July 10, where he paid his respects at the tomb of independence activist Lee Tae-jun and toured the memorial.

This marks the first visit by a South Korean president to the Lee Tae-jun Memorial since former President Lee Myung-bak in August 2011.

According to a written briefing by Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong, the memorial was established to honor Lee Tae-jun (1990, Order of Merit for National Foundation) for his contributions to Korea's independence movement and the development of modern medicine in Mongolia.

Accompanying President Lee were Foreign Minister Park Jin, Minister of Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul, and about 20 others, including Jo Yoon-kyung, president of the Korean Association in Mongolia.

From the Mongolian side, attendees included Foreign Minister Batmunkh Batjcek, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Chend Sandakher, Mongolian Ambassador to South Korea Sukhe Bold, and Deputy Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Kansu Damdin.

After laying a floral tribute at Lee Tae-jun's tomb, President Lee moved to the memorial.

At the entrance of the exhibition hall, he learned about the meaning of the proverb “Сэтгэл байвал арга олдоно,” which translates to “Where there is a will, there is a way.” This was linked to Lee Tae-jun's commitment to the independence movement and his activities in Mongolia. President Lee nodded in understanding as he viewed the bust of Lee Tae-jun and the second-floor exhibition detailing his life.

While examining photographs, President Lee expressed interest in Lee Tae-jun's admiration for independence activist Ahn Chang-ho and noted that he was the cousin of Kim Kyu-sik.

President Lee also checked medical textbooks used by Lee Tae-jun during his studies at Severance Medical School, confirming their authenticity.

He took a keen interest in an article from the Independence Newspaper that reported Lee Tae-jun's donation of 10 won to the provisional government for the independence movement, asking, “Was it acceptable to disclose the donor's name in the newspaper?”

Regarding the use of the pseudonym “Lee Dae-am” for the donor, he remarked, “It seems they used a pseudonym to avoid exposure.”

After touring the exhibition, President Lee wrote in the guestbook, “I will carry on the noble spirit of independence activist Lee Tae-jun into a golden era for Korea and Mongolia.”

As Lee Tae-jun's remains have not yet been found, a memorial site has been established. According to the travelogue “Journey to the Mongolian Desert” by Yoo Won-hyung, the area near the Zaisan Memorial is believed to be where his body was buried shortly after his death. President Lee suggested visiting the Zaisan Memorial right away.

The Zaisan Memorial, located at the foot of Zaisan Mountain, is thought to be the burial site of Lee Tae-jun, who died in 1921, and is a popular destination for both Mongolian citizens and foreign tourists in Ulaanbaatar.

After climbing the 400 steps to the Zaisan Memorial, President Lee inquired about the differences between forested areas and developed regions in Ulaanbaatar.

The Mongolian ambassador to South Korea and the South Korean ambassador to Mongolia explained that many people still live in traditional gers at the foot of the mountain.

President Lee expressed interest in the progress of plans to build a second capital in Mongolia, which is modeled after Sejong City.

He also showed curiosity when informed that the river flowing in front of the memorial leads to Lake Baikal, saying, “So it connects to Baikal.”

At the Zaisan Memorial, President Lee was greeted by South Korean tourists who excitedly requested selfies and commemorative photos with him. Chief Spokesperson Kang reported that tourists waiting until the end of the Ulaanbaatar city tour also asked President Lee for photos, and he engaged with them, taking pictures together.