President Lee Jae-myung returned to South Korea on September 9 after completing a five-day state visit to France.
Accompanied by First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, President Lee boarded Air Force One at Paris airport and is expected to arrive in Korea on September 10.
On his final day in France, President Lee held meetings with Yael Braun-Pivet, the Speaker of the French National Assembly, attended a luncheon with expatriates, and met with Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
During his meeting with Braun-Pivet, President Lee emphasized the importance of reflecting the will of the people in politics, especially in a time when democracy faces global challenges.
At the expatriate luncheon, he explained the rationale behind his proactive diplomatic efforts since the beginning of his administration and pledged to incorporate the voices of overseas Koreans into national policy. He noted, “My term is clearly limited by the constitution,” stressing the need to initiate diplomatic efforts early to fully leverage the benefits of economic and security cooperation.
In the afternoon, President Lee met with OECD Secretary-General Cormann, highlighting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of South Korea's membership in the OECD. He stated that as South Korea has transitioned from a recipient of aid to a donor country, it should contribute more to the international community.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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