South Korea's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryong and Mongolian Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Tserenpuntsag Iderbat sign a memorandum of understanding on food and agricultural cooperation at the government building in Ulaanbaatar on Thursday (local time), with President Lee Jae-myung and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh in attendance. [Yonhap]
South Korea's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryong and Mongolian Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Tserenpuntsag Iderbat sign a memorandum of understanding on food and agricultural cooperation at the government building in Ulaanbaatar on Thursday (local time), with President Lee Jae-myung and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh in attendance. [Yonhap]

South Korea and Mongolia agreed to expand cooperation in food security and smart agriculture on the occasion of President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to Mongolia.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Minister Song Mi-ryong signed a revised memorandum of understanding on food and agricultural cooperation Thursday, with the leaders of both countries present at the ceremony.

The revision comes a decade after the two countries first signed the MOU in 2016. Song had met with Mongolian Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Tserenpuntsag Iderbat in Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday to discuss ways to boost agricultural productivity and expand agri-food trade.

South Korea and Mongolia have consistently expanded bilateral trade since establishing diplomatic ties in 1990, and have deepened exchanges since elevating their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2021, according to the ministry.

In the agricultural sector, the two countries have held seven sessions of a joint agricultural committee since 2004, sharing policy on farming and rural development and pursuing cooperative projects in areas including livestock processing, veterinary services and vegetable production.

"Mongolia is a market with growing interest in K-food, especially among younger consumers, and holds strong potential for expanding exports of fresh produce and other agricultural products," Song said. "I hope this visit will serve as an opportunity to further grow agri-food trade between the two countries."


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