Park meets S. Korean residents in Mongolia

By Song Sang-ho

ULAANBAATAR, July 17 (Yonhap) -- President Park Geun-hye on Sunday met with South Korean residents in Mongolia to offer them encouragement and ask them to continue their efforts to strengthen relations between the two nations.

Park, who is currently on a two-day official visit to Mongolia, held the meeting with more than 70 South Korean residents who have contributed to enhancing the image of South Korea through an array of volunteer and economic activities.

There are some 3,000 South Korean residents in Mongolia. They run restaurants or manage tourism, trade, construction, real estate and various other businesses.

Many of them have engaged in volunteer programs to provide food aid to low-income families, and support single mothers, orphans and the physically challenged in Mongolia.

They have also contributed to improving Mongolia's tertiary education by establishing three universities in the country -- the International University of Ulaanbaatar, Huree University of ICT and Mongolia International University.

During the meeting, Park pledged to further enhance the government's consular services tailored for residents in the country. She also asked them to ensure unity among South Koreans here.

sshluck@yna.co.kr
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