President Lee Jae-myung leaves for state visit to France

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporters Lim Hyeong-seop and Ko Dong-wook = President Lee Jae-myung departed through Seoul Airport on the 6th for a state visit to France.

This visit follows President Emmanuel Macron's invitation to President Lee, who visited Korea in April, to co-chair the 'Lumière Summit', an international film and video summit held in his country.

Representative Kim Min-seok and floor leader Han Byeong-do from the Democratic Party of Korea, Minister of Public Administration and Security Yoon Ho-jung and First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoon-joo from the government, and Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik and Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyo from the Blue House came to the airport to see President Lee off on his way out of the country.

President Lee will attend the Lumière Summit held in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, southern France, on the 7th (local time) as co-chairman with President Macron.

Next, they will move to Paris and begin a two-day state bilateral visit from the 8th.

After the official welcoming ceremony, President Lee will have a private lunch with President Macron at the Elysee Palace and hold an expanded summit attended by delegations from both countries.

On the afternoon of the same day, following the 'Korea-France Business Round Table' event attended by about 20 companies from both countries, Macron and his wife will attend a state dinner hosted by the Elysee Palace.

On the 9th, the last day of the visit, the schedule includes meetings with French House of Representatives Speaker Brun Phoebe and Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Matthias Corman. A luncheon meeting with local compatriots is also scheduled.

Just before leaving the country, President Lee posted a message on

“Our embassy and rapid response team will work closely with the Nepalese authorities and make every effort to find the nine people,” he said. “The Minister of Foreign Affairs is also visiting Nepal first to directly check the local situation.”

He also promised, "I will continue to receive reports on the situation and take necessary measures while staying in France," and added, "It is a heavy step, but I will also unwaveringly fulfill my diplomatic duties for the national interest and future generations."

Regarding this state visit to France, he explained, "It was at the invitation of President Macron, who visited Korea last April to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and France."

He emphasized, "Based on the trust and friendship between Korea and France that have been built over the past 140 years, we will make this a starting point for the next 140 years. As a co-chair of the Lumiere Summit, we will explore the future of the film and video industry and further expand cooperation in culture and content between the two countries."

In addition, he added, “We will write a new drama for K-culture and the global film and video industry together in France, where film was born.”

He then wrote to President Macron, “I will see you in Saint-Paul-de-Vence (where the Lumière Summit is held).”

Meanwhile, National Security Office Director Wi Wi-rak said about this state visit to France in a briefing on the 4th, "This visit will solidify the 'global strategic partnership' with France and add new impetus to the expansion of diplomacy with Europe." He added, "We will expand cooperation in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), space, nuclear energy, and bio, and vitalize exchanges in youth and science and technology fields, while expanding the basis for K content's entry into the European market."