Lee Arrives in France, Co-chairs 'Lumière Summit' with Macron... Promoting K-Content

Over 150 Film, Video, and Gaming Figures from 30 Countries Attend
"Expanding the Foundation for Entry Into European and Global Markets"... Official State Visit Program in Paris Begins on the 8th

President Lee Jae-myung, who is on a state visit to France, will officially begin his tour schedule on the 7th (local time) by co-chairing the 'Lumière Summit' with French President Emmanuel Macron.

President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to France, is seen on the 6th (local time) at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport in France, conversing while looking at a commemorative medal gifted by Eric Ciotti, Mayor of Nice (left), who came to greet him. 2026.9.7 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap

Arriving in Nice, France on the 6th, President Lee will attend the Lumière Summit as a co-chair alongside President Macron in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, in southern France. The summit brings together around 150 participants, including senior executives and policymakers from the film, broadcast and video, and gaming industries, as well as political leaders and cultural figures from over 30 countries worldwide.

This participation in the summit was made possible by President Macron's invitation during his state visit to Korea in April. At that time, President Macron requested President Lee to serve as co-chair of the Lumière Summit and also extended an invitation for a state visit to France.

The Office of the President has stated its aim to use this summit as an opportunity to strengthen the European and global market presence of Korean content. National Security Advisor Wi Sung-rak noted in a pre-trip briefing on the 4th, "At the Lumière Summit, together with France—one of the driving forces behind the birth and growth of the film industry—we will take the lead in discussions on the future of the global film and video sector as co-chairs, and further expand the foundation for K-content and Korean companies to enter the European and global markets."

The film and video industry is one of the key sectors that President Lee is emphasizing during his visit to France. This approach goes beyond traditional diplomatic and security cooperation to place Korea's competitive cultural industries at the forefront of summit diplomacy, seeking to pioneer new markets.

Earlier, immediately after arriving in Nice on the 6th, President Lee held a dinner with creators from five continents as his first official schedule and exchanged views on the future of the global culture and content industries.

After completing the Lumière Summit, President Lee will travel to Paris to begin the official program for his bilateral state visit starting on the 8th. This will include laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe, an official welcoming ceremony, a one-on-one luncheon and an expanded summit meeting with President Macron at the Élysée Palace. A Korea-France Business Roundtable involving about 20 companies from both countries and a state banquet are also planned.

Advisor Wi referred to this visit as the completion of reciprocal state visits between the two countries' leaders, coming five months after President Macron’s state visit to Korea in April. He stated, "We will build closer ties with major global leaders and further expand the foundation for Korea's strategic diplomacy." The Office of the President plans to build on the upgraded 'Global Strategic Partnership' between the two countries, further fleshing it out in the areas of security, economy, science and technology, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

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