President Lee Returns to Seoul After State Visit to France... 1 Billion Euro Investment in Film Industry, 20 Billion Dollars in Trade by 2030

Completion of Mutual State Visits Marking the 140th Anniversary of Diplomatic Ties in Just Five Months
Solidifying the Strategic Partnership
Expanding Cooperation in AI, Nuclear Energy, Defense Industry, and Biotechnology
Joint Efforts for

President Lee Jae-myung concluded his state visit to France and began his journey home on the 9th (local time), scheduled to return on the 10th. Marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties, this visit led to South Korea and France agreeing to invest a total of 1 billion euros in the film and visual media industry over the next five years and to raise bilateral trade volume to 20 billion dollars by 2030. Achievements were made in concretizing the “Global Strategic Partnership”—which was upgraded in April—beyond culture and content, expanding to defense, security, artificial intelligence (AI), nuclear energy, and bio industries.

President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron greeted each other after a joint press conference at the Élysée Palace in Paris on the 8th (local time). 2026.9.9 Yonhap News Agency

The first tangible outcome of the tour emerged in Saint-Paul-de-Vence in southern France. On September 7, President Lee and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly chaired the "Lumière Summit," the first-ever international summit on the future of the global film and visual industry. The two countries launched the “Global Film and Visual Industry Investment Cooperation Initiative,” under which each side will invest 500 million euros in their respective film and visual sectors from 2027 to 2031. The goal is to support the creative and production ecosystem with policy financing totaling 1 billion euros, and to broaden the scope of cooperation to joint Korea-France investments, co-productions, and entry into global markets in the future.

President Lee named this effort the "Lumière Partnership," emphasizing that "it will lead to investments to vitalize domestic film and visual industries, encourage joint investment and production between our two countries, and serve as a solid stepping stone for local content to enter the global stage." In the joint press statement following the summit, he highlighted, "We have agreed on the Lumière Partnership, worth a total of 1 billion euros," and assessed it as laying the groundwork for expanding Korean content’s opportunities in Europe.

At the summit held in Paris, the two leaders expanded cooperation on economic, security, and advanced industry matters. On September 8, President Lee and President Macron held a luncheon and an expanded meeting, agreeing to strengthen economic and industrial cooperation with the goal of achieving 20 billion dollars in trade by 2030. President Lee stated, "Our two countries will work closely together so that businesses can operate in a stable and predictable environment and create more opportunities in each other's markets."

The two countries exchanged eight agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs), including the amendment protocol for the Military Secret Protection Agreement, as well as MOUs on AI, semiconductors, quantum technology, nuclear energy, industrial competitiveness, intellectual property, and space. Next week, the air forces of both countries will conduct the "Pegasus" joint drill in Seoul, and mutual naval port visits are also planned. In nuclear energy, they agreed to open a high-level civil dialogue channel and expand cooperation on nuclear fuel supply chains and next-generation reactors. Business cooperation also became more concrete during the summit diplomacy, highlighted by collaborations such as the investment partnership between Samsung Electronics and France’s Mistral AI.

Global issues, such as the Strait of Hormuz and the war in Ukraine, were also discussed at the summit table. President Lee stated, "We agreed to continue close cooperation to swiftly restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the stability of global supply chains."

President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron are taking a commemorative photo with attendees including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Korea Economic Cooperation Federation Chairman Ryu Jin, and Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-joon at the business roundtable held at the Marigny State Guesthouse in Paris, France on the 8th (local time). 2026.9.9 Yonhap News Agency Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Korea-France business roundtable that followed the summit became a venue to translate summit agreements into real industrial and investment activities. The event, organized by the Korea Economic Cooperation Federation and the French business federation (MEDEF), brought together over 30 representatives from both governments and companies to discuss sector-specific cooperation in AI, quantum technology, mobility, energy, bio, and beauty. Notable examples include the investment agreement between Samsung Electronics and Mistral AI; manufacturing AI cooperation between Naver and Mistral AI; future vehicle parts collaboration between Hyundai Mobis and Opi Mobility; and nuclear fuel cooperation between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Orano. The bio sector also saw a broadening of business ties, such as SK Pharmteco and Genethon's partnership for contract gene therapy manufacturing. At the roundtable, President Lee stressed that the cooperation between companies in both countries must lead to tangible results from summit diplomacy.

The French side reciprocated President Lee’s state visit with the highest level of protocol. State welcoming events were staged in France’s symbolic spaces, beginning with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe and continuing through the Champs-Élysées and Élysée Palace. President Macron hosted a private luncheon with President Lee for approximately two hours. Before the state dinner, President Lee was awarded France’s highest distinction, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, while First Lady Kim Hye-kyung received the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit. The Blue House described this as the highest level of diplomatic hospitality.

On the final day, September 9, President Lee met with Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly, requesting interest and support so that the summit's outcomes can lead to parliamentary-level cooperation. He concluded his official schedule with a meeting with the Korean community and a courtesy call to OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, having completed their state visit schedule in France, are moving by Air Force One at Paris Orly Airport on the 9th (local time). 2026.9.10 Yonhap News Agency

After returning to Korea, President Lee plans to begin the full-scale implementation of the agreements reached during the state visit. The 1 billion euro Lumière Partnership will be concretized through the execution of policy financing and collaborative investment and production projects, while the goal of reaching 20 billion dollars in trade by 2030 will be supported through expanded investments, contracts, and market entries by individual companies. The amendment of the Military Secret Protection Agreement and sector-specific MOUs in nuclear energy and AI will hinge on follow-up discussions and implementation.

On Facebook, President Lee stated, "The trust built in Seoul last April has produced concrete results today in Paris," and added, "What matters most is that the people and businesses of both countries tangibly experience these results." He further emphasized, "We will translate our agreements into real improvements in people's lives."

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