President Lee Jae Myung will hold a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited South ..

Strengthen ‘Global Strategic Partnership’ Relationship
AI, Investment, and Nuclear Cooperation Discussion
“Strengthening Strategic Communication and Establishing Future-oriented Partnerships”

사진 확대 President Lee Jae Myung and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung are taking a commemorative photo with French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at a friendly dinner held at Sangchunjae, Cheong Wa Dae on the 2nd. [Blue House]

President Lee Jae Myung will hold a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited South Korea as a state guest at Cheong Wa Dae on the 3rd.

President Macron’s state visit to Korea was held to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It is the first time since 2015 that a French president has visited Korea.

President Lee also left a message in French and Korean on his X (formerly Twitter) account, saying, “Welcome President Macron’s state visit with the people.”

The talks are expected to discuss ways to promote cooperation in various fields such as trade and investment, advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), space, and nuclear power, science and technology, education and culture, and human exchanges.

In a written briefing, presidential spokesman Kang Yoo-jung said that the two countries have decided to upgrade the “21st Century Comprehensive Partnership” relationship established in 2004 to a “global strategic partner” in 22 years.

The following state luncheon will be attended by 140 people from all walks of life from both countries, and Felix and actor Jeon Ji-hyun of the French honorary ambassador K-pop group “Stray Kids.”

The luncheon menu consisted of authentic Korean food in consideration of the preferences of President Macron and his wife who enjoy the food of the countries they visit during their overseas trips.

The appetizer, tricolored wheat ssam, Jeju red shrimp radish ssam, and East Sea scallop ssam with truffle, expressed Korea’s unique ssam culture and expressed the meaning of harmony between the two countries. In particular, the three colors of tricolored wheat ssam mean “freedom, equality, and fraternity,” the core ideology of France, Kang explained.

사진 확대 Korean-French summit couple listening to Chef Son Jong-won’s explanation [Cheong Wa Dae]

Chef Son Jong-won, who appeared on Netflix’s program “Black and White Cook 2” earlier in the evening, presented six menus combining Korean and French cuisine.

President Lee and his wife, Mrs. 盤, prepared a ‘고 Homaju’ craft as a gift, symbolizing the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. King Gojong’s Banhwa is a bonsai craft that Emperor Gojong gave to then-President Sadi Carnot in 1886 to commemorate diplomatic relations with France, and is a form of hanging flowers and leaves made of various jewels on a tree.

First Lady Brigitte Macron, known as a K-pop fan, will be presented with autographed albums by Korean artists such as BTS (BTS), Stray Kids, and G-Dragon, as well as a set of Western tableware made with Korean ceramic technology.

In addition, lucky bag bread made by Korean bakers who won the French baking competition “Coup du Mont de la Boulangeri” this year, macarons from French Amiens, President Macron’s hometown, and crafts modeled after the Eiffel Tower were prepared as welcome gifts.

President Macron will give a lecture to students at Yonsei University after a state dinner, followed by a “Korea-France Economic Future Dialogue” attended by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and a dinner with cultural figures, before departing through Seoul Airport tonight.