Kathmandu: In a joint press conference held today at the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Nepal Tourism Board, and Jugal Rural Municipality, organizers announced the full preparedness for the upcoming Jugal-I and II expedition, part of the Nepal-Korea Friendship Expedition 2024.
During the conference, it was revealed that ten Korean climbers are set to arrive in Nepal, joining their Nepali counterparts who are already in Kathmandu. The expedition, scheduled to commence this Sunday, will be under the guidance of distinguished climber and honorary Nepali citizen, Um Hong Gil, leading the Korean team, and world record holder Nepali women climber and 2nd Vice President of the NMA, Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, leading the Nepali climbers.
Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal is slated to present the Nepali flag to the expedition team tomorrow morning at his residence in Baluwatar. Following this, the team will proceed towards Jugal Rural Municipality in Sindhupalchok District for the expedition.
Jugal-I (6591m) & II (6518m) are virgin peaks of Nepal, opened for expedition activities only last year by the Government of Nepal.
“The government has waived royalty fees for seven Korean and three Nepali climbers participating in the expedition, aligning with the 50th Anniversary of Nepal-Korean bilateral relations,” stated organizers.
The expedition, jointly organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Civil Aviation, NMA, Nepal Tourism Board, Korea Alpine Federation, Um Hong Gil Human Foundation, and Jugal Rural Municipality, is anticipated to return to Kathmandu on April 25, 2024, following the successful completion of the ascent.