‘Lumière Partnership’ launched with investment of 800 billion won and 500 million euros over 5 years

President Lee Jae-myung, who is on a state visit to France, attended the 'Lumière Summit', an international film and video summit held in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, southern France, on the 7th (local time).

In his opening speech, President Lee, who co-chaired the summit, announced that Korea and France had agreed to launch the 'Lumière Partnership', a global film and video industry investment cooperation initiative, using this event as an opportunity.

President Lee said, "Through this, Korea and France will invest 800 billion won and 500 million euros, respectively, in the film and video industry over the next five years. I hope that this partnership will go beyond bilateral relations and become a light that shines a new future for the global film and video industry."

In particular, President Lee emphasized that, as conditions for the film industry have recently become more difficult, “it is time to pool our wisdom to turn this change into an opportunity rather than a crisis.”

First, President Lee diagnosed, "This is a crisis for theaters. With the pandemic, there has been a significant change in the pattern of gathering together to watch movies, and with the spread of OTT (online video service), the number of viewings has decreased significantly."

He also explained that with the advent of global OTT, reducing the influence of local broadcasters and content producers has become a new task.

He pointed out that the development of artificial intelligence (AI) is also an opportunity to create innovative changes, but that it leaves challenges such as a decline in industrial jobs and copyright issues, and that securing the diversity of independent films is also important.

In relation to this, President Lee said, "As a core country in the global AI supply chain, Korea will fulfill its responsibility to ensure that humans and AI coexist harmoniously," and promised, "Multilateral cooperation is needed to ensure that more independent films are continuously produced. Korea will also be a strong partner for independent films."

Regarding local content, he said, "Korea will play a role in ensuring that the coexistence and coexistence of local and global becomes the first principle of the film industry."

Meanwhile, President Lee reflected, "The year 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the release of Na Un-gyu's 'Arirang' and has special meaning in Korean film history."

He then went on to introduce the development of the Korean film industry, saying, "'Parasite', which solved the problem of social class in Korea, and director Lee Chang-dong's 'Burning' both advanced to the Cannes International Film Festival and raised the status of Korean films, while 'Kingdom' and 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' introduced Korea's traditional hat, the hat of Joseon, and Korean culture to the world."

He said, "I hope that this year's summit, named after the Lumière brothers, the founders of film, will be recorded in history as a special chapter that led to innovation and growth in the film industry."