[Yonhap News Photo]
"We should be able to open up a new horizon for South Korea's global diplomacy by hosting the event," Yoon told attendees at a luncheon meeting in Paris on June 19 (local time). At the conference held at a hotel, some 160 participants attended including France's former culture minister Fleur Pellerin and Cédric O, a French politician currently serving as Secretary of State for the Digital Sector.
"I hope Korean compatriots in France will, of course, cooperate to host the expo, which the South Korean central and local governments, the public and private sectors, and citizens are wishing for," Yoon said, adding that South Korea is the partner of France that shares universal values -- freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. He highlighted France's commitment during the 1950-53 Korean War, saying the European country fought to protect South Korea's freedom.
The president will give a speech in English in the bid presentation for the World Expo on June 20. During his visit to France, the leader will take part in the South Korea-France summit meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, a digital vision conference, a dialogue program with young generations, and a European firms' investment declaration ceremony. He is set to visit Vietnam on June 22 after completing his schedule in France.
