KATHMANDU: A team from the Korean Alpine Federation (KAF) has been flagged off for the SAT Peak expedition, aiming to further deepen the friendly bilateral ties between Nepal and the Republic of Korea.

The KAF team will attempt the first ascent of SAT Peak and is scheduled to leave for Taplejung on Tuesday. A few climbers have previously made unsuccessful attempts on the peak. If the KAF team succeeds this season, it will mark the first-ever ascent of the mountain, according to the organisers.

During an event organized by Sora Adventure Treks and Expedition in Kathmandu, Park Tae-Young, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal, along with Director General of the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ram Krishna Lamichhane; President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, Phur Gelje Sherpa; and Chairman of the Korea Tours and Trekking Operators Association Nepal (KOTTAN), Amar Bahadur Shahi, welcomed the KAF team and wished them success in the SAT Peak expedition.

The seven-member team is led by An ChiYoung with members including Euijoon Lee, Hyungwook Choi, Jiho Choi, Jongmin Baek, Sangkug Lee and Seoyeong Bae. The KAF-funded expedition will not be supported by Nepali guides as they attempt to scale the virgin peak in an alpine style.

Welcoming the team, Ambassador Park said that as Nepal is a popular destination for Korean travelers, the KAF expedition would help attract more Korean tourists to Nepal. Over the decades, the friendship between the two countries has grown deeper, grounded in mutual respect and shared aspirations for peace, prosperity, and development. Ambassador Park said that the SAT Peak expedition would help promote the Kanchenjunga region and attract more Korean adventure enthusiasts to Nepal.

Director General Lamichhane also wished the team success, stating that such first attempts on Nepal’s virgin peaks would help explore the potential of many other unclimbed mountains in the country.

NMA President Sherpa said that the association is always ready to work jointly with KAF to strengthen tourism activities in both countries. He also noted that NMA will host the General Assembly of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) in Nepal from October 28 to 31.

KOTTAN President Shahi stated that the organization is committed to promoting tourism and enhancing people-to-people relations between the two countries.

Team leader An ChiYoung said that the team is determined to make the historic expedition a success. “We are excited to embark on the SAT Peak expedition as it aims to further strengthen cooperation between climbers of the two countries,” he said.

On the occasion, Ngawa Ngima Sherpa, owner of Sora Adventure and liaison officer for the Korea Alpine Federation, said the expedition reflects the longstanding ties between Korea and Nepal. “Sora Adventure feels proud to handle this historic expedition to the unclimbed SAT Peak,” he added.

SAT Peak (6,220 m) is located in the Janak Himal range in the Kanchenjunga region of Taplejung district. The climbing route spans approximately 6.3 km from the base camp and takes around a month to complete. The caravan route follows Taplejung–Ghunsa–Lonak–Tshima Glacier–Base Camp.