ULAANBAATAR — The daily commute between the press corps’ hotel and the press center was an unexpected hurdle during President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Mongolia from Thursday to Friday. Although the distance was about 2 kilometers — a 10-minute shuttle bus ride under normal conditions — morning traffic jams in Ulaanbaatar, coupled with the shuttle’s once-an-hour service often forced reporters to make the roughly 30-minute walk instead. Yet what began as a hurdle provided an opportunity to experience firsthand the so-called “Mongtan New City,” a blended term reflecting how deeply Korean lifestyle and culture have become woven into everyday life in the Mongolian capital. The term combines Mongolia and Dongtan, a relatively new town from the Seoul metropolitan area that rapidly filled with convenience stores, cafes, bakeries, restaurants and other neighborhood businesses after its development in the 2000s. Likewise, the 2-kilometer stretch between the lodging and the press center was lined with familiar Korean brands, including the convenience store chains CU and GS25,