Government officials announce that former South African President Nelson Mandela is expected to have the first meeting with President Kim Dae-jung next month in Seoul.

At the invitation of the Korean government, Mandela plans to pay a three-day official visit to South Korea in mid-March, when the President will return home from a summit with U.S. President George W. Bush.

Manadela, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his lifelong dedication to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa, often bears comparison with Kim in the international society.

Kim received the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to foster reconciliation with North Korea.

Kim and Mandela are expected to discuss improvement of human rights worldwide and inter-Korean relations during their talks in Seoul.

Mandela reportedly wishes to push ahead with a plan to set up a peace park in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in a bid to draw worldwide attention to inter-Korean cooperation and reconciliation.