S. Korean leaders meet with Aung San Suu Kyi

Visiting Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (R) shakes hand with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak during their meeting in the presidential Blue House in Seoul on January 29, 2013. (Xinhua)

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and his successor Park Geun-hye met Tuesday with Myanmar's opposition leader and parliamentarian Aung San Suu Kyi, their aides said.

Su Kyi arrived in Seoul a day ago for a five-day trip, during which she is scheduled to receive the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights and attend the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Winter Games in PyeongChang.

"Economic development and democratization should go hand in hand," Lee told the pro-democracy icon in their meeting focused on economic and educational exchanges between the two countries, according to his spokesman Lee Mi-yon.

Park, who replaces Lee next month, also met with Su Kyi and voiced hope the two countries will make joint efforts for greater freedom and peace in the region, according to her aides.

The Nobel Peace laureate and leader of the National League for Democracy was released from house arrest in 2010 and became a parliamentarian in the by-election in April 2012.