The 105th Boston Marathon winner, Lee Bong-ju returned home Friday afternoon into the feverish welcome of citizens and his family.

After a loving hug with his mother Kong Ok-hee and a brief news conference at the airport, Lee enjoyed a 58 kilometer-long car parade from the airport to Seoul City Hall in central Seoul under the escort of a police motorcade.

The citizens lining the roads greeted Lee ardently by shaking national flags and loud applause.

Around 6:30 p.m., a short welcoming ceremony was held in front of Daehan Gate at Doksoo Palace, with some 2,000 citizens and sports officials attending.

Kim Un-yong, president of the Korean Sports Council(KSC) said in his greeting speech... Lee's winning in the Boston Marathon Competition has contributed in fostering pride in Lee's indomitable spirit and enhanced Korea' status in the international community.

Lee won the Boston Marathon Monday in a time of 2 hours 9 minutes and 43 seconds, becoming Korea's first champion in the U.S. competition in more than half a century.

Lee was the third South Korean to break the finish line in the race's 105-year history, after Suh Yun-bok in 1947 and Ham Kee-yong in 1950.