Ambassador to Washington Lee Tae-shik has invited the Korean mother of American football star Hines Ward to visit Washington.

In the invitation letter sent Thursday, Lee also expressed his congratulations to Kim Young-hee on her son's MVP performance in the Super Bowl.

Lee said both Koreans and Americans are deeply touched over her devoted raising of Ward, adding he hopes to meet Kim and hear how she reared her mixed-blood son.

Meanwhile, Ward and the Pittsburgh Steelers were invited to the White House to meet with President George W. Bush.

In April, Ward will visit South Korea with his mother.