South Korean President makes surprise visit to Ukraine, pledges continued support for Kiev

President Yoon Suk Yeol made an unannounced visit to Ukraine, according to an announcement from the South Korean presidential office on July 15.

Tổng thống Hàn Quốc Yoon Suk Yeol (phải) bắt tay Tổng thống Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky trong hội nghị thượng đỉnh ở Hiroshima, Nhật Bản ngày 21/5. Ảnh: Yonhap

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (right) shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a summit in Hiroshima, Japan on May 21. (Source: Yonhap)

President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee arrived in Ukraine today after concluding their visit to Poland, according to senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye.

During his visit to Ukraine, the South Korean leader visited the site of mass killings in Bucha, near the capital Kiev, and then visited Irpien, a residential area that was hit by a large-scale rocket attack. He planned to lay a wreath at a war memorial before holding a summit with his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

The visit comes after President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius and then paid an official visit to Poland.

Mr. Yoon's presence in Ukraine has attracted international attention. South Korea has expressed support for Ukraine after Russia launched a "special military operation."

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has pledged to continue supporting Ukraine by promoting cooperation with Poland, which has played a leading role in efforts to garner support for Kiev.

The statement was made by President Yoon in an interview with Polish daily Rzeczpospolita , as he began a three-day official visit to the country after attending the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in Lithuania.

“South Korea will continue to support Ukraine through close cooperation with Poland, one of the leading countries in Europe supporting Kiev,” President Yoon said.

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