President Lee: "We Will Bring the Korea-France Summit Agreement into People's Lives"

Proposing Six Key Areas of Cooperation, Including $20 Billion Trade by 2030, Nuclear Power, and Defense Industry
"May Today Be Remembered as a New Starting Point 140 Years from Now"

During his state visit to France, President Lee Jae-myung on September 9 introduced six main areas of cooperation agreed upon by the Republic of Korea and France, including defense and security, economy and industry, and advanced technology. He stated that he would bring today’s agreements into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron greeted each other after a joint press conference at the Élysée Palace in Paris on September 8, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

While visiting France as a state guest, President Lee posted on Facebook under the title “Cooperation between the Republic of Korea and France Will Extend to Everyday Life,” noting, “The trust established in Seoul last April has produced concrete results in Paris today.” He emphasized, “What matters most is that the people and businesses of both countries truly experience these outcomes.”

President Lee first addressed the area of defense and security, saying that the two countries would strengthen their military intelligence-sharing system by amending the Military Secret Protection Agreement and would expand defense industry cooperation through upcoming bilateral air force ‘Pegasus’ joint training in Seoul next week and reciprocal naval visits. The Republic of Korea and France adopted a total of 16 cooperation documents at the summit, including the amendment protocol to the Military Secret Protection Agreement.

In the field of economy and industry, the two countries set a goal to achieve bilateral trade volume of 20 billion dollars by 2030. President Lee stated, “More than twenty companies are seeking new opportunities for cooperation and investment,” and announced plans to bolster government support for companies entering each other’s markets. At the Korea-France Business Roundtable held earlier, major corporate leaders from both countries, including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, discussed investment and cooperation measures in artificial intelligence (AI) and high-tech industries.

In the area of advanced industry, Korea and France will work together on joint research and market development in AI, quantum technologies, space, nuclear energy, and bio sectors. President Lee particularly highlighted, “We will strengthen cooperation for next-generation reactor development and civil nuclear energy collaboration.”

Institutional improvements to facilitate expanded people-to-people exchanges were also included. The Korea-France aviation agreement, first signed in 1974, will be revised for the first time in 52 years, and from October, eligibility for working holiday programs will be broadened. The two governments also agreed to strengthen security cooperation to jointly respond to transnational crimes. In the cultural sector, President Lee reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the European presence of K-content based on the ‘Lumière Partnership’ worth 1 billion euros, or about 1.6 trillion won.

On international issues, President Lee said, “The two countries have agreed to join forces to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to support the restoration of peace and reconstruction in Ukraine.” He added that President Emmanuel Macron expressed his support for the Korean government’s efforts to improve inter-Korean relations.

He continued, “We will tackle the challenges facing the international community together, and continue to become even stronger ‘global strategic partners’ to each other.” President Lee concluded, “Let us join hands and move forward so that 140 years from now, future generations will remember today as a new starting point for Korea and France.” He ended his post in French, writing “Merci beaucoup! (Thank you very much).”

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