Ex-President Moon heads to Mongolia for U.N. desertification conference

Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in embarked on a nine-day trip to Mongolia on Sunday, aimed at attending the United Nations' conference on desertification. The journey commenced from Busan's Gimhae International Airport, with Moon set to return via Incheon International Airport. This visit marks Moon's second official overseas trip since stepping down as president in 2022, and was arranged with the invitation of the UNCCD and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh.

Moon is slated to deliver a speech at the opening of the 17th session of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties, scheduled for Monday. Following the conference, he will participate in a luncheon hosted by Mongolian President Khurelsukh. On Wednesday, Moon will present a keynote address at a high-level roundtable for the Peace Forest Initiative, a global cooperation platform launched in 2019 jointly by the South Korean government and the UNCCD.