President Lee Departs for State Visit to France... Expanding Cooperation in Advanced Industries such as AI and Nuclear Energy

Reciprocal State Visits Between Korea and France in Just Five Months
Co-chairing the "Lumière Summit" with Macron
Expanding Cooperation in AI, Space, Nuclear Energy, and Biotechnology
Seeking New Opportunities for K-Content in Europe

President Lee Jae-myung departed on the 6th for a state visit to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron. President Lee will co-chair the international cinema and video summit, the "Lumière Summit," with President Macron and hold a summit meeting to discuss expanding advanced industry cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), space, nuclear energy, and biotechnology.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, visiting France on a state visit, are departing from Seongnam Seoul Airport on Air Force One on the 6th. From left, Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Interior and Safety; Kim Minseok, leader of the Democratic Party; President Lee; First Lady Kim; and Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of the Presidential Secretariat. September 6, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News.

On the morning of the same day, President Lee was accompanied by First Lady Kim Hye-kyung as they boarded Air Force One at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, en route to France. At the airport, Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of the Interior and Safety; Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Presidential Staff; Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Political Secretary; Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party; and Han Byung-do, floor leader, were present to bid farewell to the presidential couple.

This five-day, three-night visit came to fruition after President Macron, during his state visit to Korea in April, asked President Lee to serve as co-chair of the Lumière Summit and proposed a reciprocal state visit to France. The completion of both leaders' reciprocal state visits, within just five months of Macron's visit to Korea, highlights the significance of this development. In April, the two countries elevated their relationship to a "global strategic partnership" during the summit meeting. Notably, this year marks the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and France.

President Lee's first official engagement in southern France will be a "Dinner with Creators from Five Continents." The first core event of the trip will be the Lumière Summit, held on September 7th local time in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. President Lee and President Macron will deliver opening speeches as co-chairs, and engage in discussions on the future of the global film and video industry with government officials and industry leaders from various countries.

The Lumière Summit, held for the first time this year, is an international forum for high-level discussions about the future of "moving image" industries such as film, broadcasting, streaming, and gaming. Around 150 participants are expected, including government officials from five continents, executives from global content and media companies, and creators. Key agendas include the impact of generative AI on the creative ecosystem, funding for content production and investment, the decline in audiences and competition with social media, and exploring new markets. Executives from global content companies such as Disney, NBCUniversal, and Netflix will also be present. The presidential office (Cheong Wa Dae) intends to leverage this event as a pivotal opportunity to extend the influence of Korea’s content industry beyond cultural achievements to global market expansion and industrial cooperation.

Wi Sung-rak, Chief of the National Security Office, emphasized during a briefing that, "At the Lumière Summit, together with France—which has led the birth and growth of the film industry—we will spearhead discussions on the future of the global film and video industry as co-chairs, and further expand the foundation for K-content and Korean companies to enter European and global markets."

On the 8th, President Lee will move to Paris and begin the official state visit itinerary. After laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe and attending an official welcoming ceremony, he will hold a one-on-one luncheon with President Macron at the Élysée Palace. This will be followed by an expanded summit attended by delegations from both countries to discuss advancement in Korea-France relations and international affairs. A business roundtable, with over 20 companies from both countries, as well as a state banquet hosted by President Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron, are also planned.

The summit is expected to focus on concrete cooperation projects stemming from the "global strategic partnership" agreed upon in April. Core topics will include expanding joint research and development, cooperation between enterprises, and market entry strategies in advanced technology sectors like AI, space, nuclear energy, and biotechnology. In their April summit, both countries had also agreed to strengthen cooperation in future industries and energy sectors such as nuclear energy, AI, critical minerals, and offshore wind power.

With growing uncertainty in the current international situation, special attention is also expected on security issues in discussions between the two leaders. France is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a central member of the European Union. In the April summit, Korea and France agreed to cooperate to ensure a secure maritime transport route in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz. With the issue of Korea’s potential contributions to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz resurfacing, an exchange of views on this matter is also likely.

President Jae-myung Lee and his wife, who are on a state visit to France, are greeting the farewell party from Air Force One at Seongnam Seoul Airport on the 6th. September 6, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News.

On September 9, President Lee will hold a meeting with Yaël Braun-Pivet, Speaker of the French National Assembly, then attend a luncheon with Korean nationals residing abroad, and meet with Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He will then return to Korea.

The presidential office views this visit as an opportunity to expand Korea’s diplomacy with Europe in President Lee’s second year in office. Chief Wi stated, "We expect that this state visit will provide tangible substance to the 'global strategic partnership' with France, which was elevated in April, through practical cooperation across security, economic, and human exchanges, and will also serve as new momentum for expanding our diplomatic outreach in Europe."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.