Ankara: President Lee Jae Myung on Monday paid tribute to the late Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and first president of Turkey, as the South Korean leader began his official two-day state visit to Ankara aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee honored Ataturk by writing a message in a memorial book at Ataturk's mausoleum, expressing hopes for shared prosperity between the two nations. He also laid a wreath of white and red flowers, symbolizing the colors of the Turkish flag, at the site.

Turkey played a significant role in the 1950-53 Korean War by sending the fourth-largest contingent of troops as part of the U.N. forces, contributing more than 21,000 personnel.

Ataturk is celebrated for implementing extensive reforms that transformed Turkey into a modern and secular nation-state.

Later in the day, President Lee is scheduled to engage in summit talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace.