New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was recently conferred with the Seoul Peace Prize for 2018 for his contribution to international cooperation and fostering global economic growth, will leave for a two-day visit to South Korea on Thursday to receive the prize. The prime minister will arrive in Seoul on February 21 on a visit that will provide an important occasion for the two leaders to review the recent developments in bilateral relations.


During his visit, Modi will also address India-Korea Business Symposium and also launch India-Korea start-up hub. He will also unveil the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at a varsity in Seoul. The visit is part of the new momentum in high-level exchanges between India and South Korea which witnessed the visit of President Moon to India for a bilateral summit in July 2018 and the participation of the Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook at the Deepotsav event in Ayodhya in November 2018.

Earlier, Modi had expressed his gratitude for the prestigious honour and in the light of India' deepening partnership with the Republic of Korea, he has accepted the award.

The Seoul Peace Prize was established in 1990 to commemorate the success of the 24th Olympic Games held in Seoul. The award was established to crystalise Korean people's yearning for peace on the Korean peninsula and in the rest of the world.

While conferring the award on Modi, the award committee had recognised his contribution to the growth of Indian and global economies, crediting 'Modinomics' for reducing social and economic disparity between the rich and the poor.

He is the 14th recipient of the award and the past laureates included former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and renowned international relief organizations like Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam.