KATHMANDU: With Nepal and South Korea celebrating the golden jubilee of their bilateral relations next month, the government today decided to waive mountaineering royalty for a joint expedition attempting to climb Jugal mountains in Sindhupalchowk district.

Government spokesperson Rekha Sharma informed that today's Cabinet approved a proposal of the Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation asking for royalty waiver for the Nepal-Korea joint expedition on jugal I and Jugal II peaks in Sindhupalchowk district.

Nepal's expedition coordinator and president of the Korean Alpine Federation's liaison office Ngawa Ngima Sherpa said that the royalty will be waived for seven Koran and three Nepali climbers who will jointly embark on Jugal I (6,590m) and Jugal II (6,518m) expeditions on April 7. Ministry of Tourism, Nepal Tourism Board, Jugal Rural Municipality, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Um Hong Gil Human Foundation, Korean Embassy in Nepal, Korea Tours and Trekking Operator Association of Nepal and Korean Alpine Rescue Association will be jointly organizing the 'Nepal-Korea Friendship Expedition 2024.

'Legendary climber and philanthropist Captain Um Hong Gil will lead the joint expedition which is being organised to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Nepal,' Sherpa said.

The team will attempt to scale the virgin peaks – Jugal I and II in Sindhupalchowk district while they will be flagged off by the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Korean Ambassador to Nepal Park Taeyoung on April 6, Sherpa shared.