Lee's attendance at the event held in the Kremlin was in contrast to South Korea's ally, the US and counterparts from several Western countries, who had boycotted the event over the war in Ukraine, Yonhap news agency reported.
According to news reports, EU countries were also divided over sending delegations to the opening ceremony.
The decision was taken after careful consideration of various pending bilateral issues and the need to manage bilateral relations with Moscow, a source said.
The government also reportedly took into account its responsibility to protect the rights and interests of South Korean citizens and businesses in Russia.
An official of the Foreign Ministry said that whether or not to send a presidential letter to Putin for his re-election victory is still under consideration.
Bilateral relations between Seoul and Moscow have cooled after South Korea joined a US-led move to impose sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has described South Korea as one of the unfriendly nations and has demanded Seoul withdraw economic sanctions imposed on Moscow.
Russia revealed early last month that a South Korean missionary has been held in Moscow's Lefortovo detention center since late February on spying charges, a claim the Christian aid group he works for denied. Have done.
According to news reports, EU countries were also divided over sending delegations to the opening ceremony.
The decision was taken after careful consideration of various pending bilateral issues and the need to manage bilateral relations with Moscow, a source said.
The government also reportedly took into account its responsibility to protect the rights and interests of South Korean citizens and businesses in Russia.
An official of the Foreign Ministry said that whether or not to send a presidential letter to Putin for his re-election victory is still under consideration.
Bilateral relations between Seoul and Moscow have cooled after South Korea joined a US-led move to impose sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has described South Korea as one of the unfriendly nations and has demanded Seoul withdraw economic sanctions imposed on Moscow.
Russia revealed early last month that a South Korean missionary has been held in Moscow's Lefortovo detention center since late February on spying charges, a claim the Christian aid group he works for denied. Have done.
