SEOUL, May 31 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Thursday approved a Buddhist monk's visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the first approval for civilian exchange between the two Koreas under the Moon Jae-in government.

A South Korean Buddhist monk had been invited by the DPRK side, and the Unification Ministry approved his visit Thursday, according to local media reports.

Ven. Cheondam, a Buddhist monk and the head of the World Peace Foundation, was scheduled to visit Pyongyang from June 2 to June 6.

During the visit, the South Korean monk will reportedly meet with his DPRK counterparts to discuss the restoration of a temple in Mount Kumgang, a scenic resort mountain in southeastern DPRK.

It marked the first approval of a civilian's visit to the DPRK since South Korean President Moon Jae-in took office in May last year.