Presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young said that President Roh Moo-hyun sent a congratulatory telegram Tuesday to a South Korean expedition that has accomplished the feat of walking to the South Pole unaided.

In the message sent to Park Young-seok, 41, and four others, Roh remitted his congratulations to the Korean team on "treading the South Pole unaided but for the strong spirit of undaunted challenge."

Roh expressed the hope the team would go on to become the first group to achieve the "grand slam" of mountaineers, that is, conquering the 14 highest Himalayan mountains, the highest peaks on the seven continents and the South and North Poles.

Park and his colleagues completed the trek of 44 days on early Tuesday (Korean time), breaking the previous world record of British explorer Tim Jarvis and his team in December 1999, who completed the trek in 48 days.

Park said his teammates, all in their 30s, suffered frostbite on their faces but no other serious health problems.