Lee pays tribute at Jose Rizal memorial during Philippines visit
President Lee Jae Myung, right, lays a wreath at the memorial of Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, in Manila, Tuesday. Yonhap
MANILA — President Lee Jae Myung paid tribute at the memorial to Jose Rizal (1861-1896), the national hero of the Philippines, on Tuesday as he began his state visit to the Southeast Asian country for summit talks with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Lee laid a wreath at the memorial shortly after arriving in Manila to honor Rizal, who led the independence movement during Spanish colonial rule and was executed in 1896.
During the visit, Lee received "The Key to the City of Manila," a ceremonial, symbolic item presented by Manila officials.
The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian nation to establish diplomatic relations with South Korea and sent the first and largest contingent of 7,420 troops to support Seoul during the Korean War in 1950.