On October 16, a high-level symposium marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France was successfully held at the French National Assembly, according to the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) on October 22.
The event, co-hosted by FKCCI, the European think tank KEY, ANAFF-ONU Korea, the France-Korea Forum, and the Monclair Center, featured discussions on the historical roots of the bilateral relationship, the legacy of the Korean War, and geopolitical changes on the Korean Peninsula. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions aimed at expanding political, institutional, and economic cooperation.
The symposium also highlighted the expansion of cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic and commercial exchanges into advanced manufacturing and consumer goods. Notably, significant investment agreements were announced, including Air Liquide's acquisition of DIG Airgas, valued at approximately 4.6 trillion won, and Opimo Mobility's purchase of Hyundai Mobis' lamp division, worth around 600 billion won.
Representatives from major companies and institutions, including Korean Air, Air Liquide, Opimo Mobility, Cosmetic Valley, the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), and MEDEF International, the international cooperation organization under France's largest business association, MEDEF, attended the event.
Notable attendees included Louis Gallois, former chairman of Airbus and SNCF; Philippe Gautier, CEO of MEDEF International; Shim Hyun-jin, head of Korean Air's Paris branch and president of the Paris Korea-France Chamber of Commerce; Philippe Lee, honorary chairman of FKCCI; and David Pierre Jalicon, president of FKCCI, who all contributed to the event's significance.
Additionally, key political figures, including Kwon Hyun-wook, South Korea's ambassador to France, French lawmakers, and diplomats, were present. Song Young-gil, a member of the National Assembly and special advisor on peace diplomacy to President Lee Jae-myung, and Jean-Noël Barrot, France's Minister for European Affairs, sent video congratulatory messages that elevated the event's profile.
This symposium served as a platform for opinion leaders from politics, business, diplomacy, and academia to gather at the French National Assembly, reaffirming the historical trust shared by both nations and confirming their evolution into a stronger next-generation partnership through concrete investments and innovations.
During the event, which also celebrated the 40th anniversary of FKCCI, David Pierre Jalicon presented a joint commemorative book titled '140/40 Book' to honor the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations and the 40th anniversary of economic cooperation.
Furthermore, on October 15, FKCCI signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Cosmetic Valley, France's largest cosmetics cluster, to strengthen cooperation in the cosmetics industry between the two countries. Philippe Lee, honorary chairman of FKCCI, and Marc-Antoine Jamet, secretary general of LVMH and president of Cosmetic Valley, indicated that this collaboration would create strong synergies in the beauty sector of both nations.
This year marks the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, highlighted by reciprocal state visits between President Lee Jae-myung and President Emmanuel Macron, resulting in the elevation of their diplomatic ties to a 'global strategic partnership' for the first time in 22 years.
Looking ahead, both countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation in advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, with FKCCI actively promoting economic exchanges between the two nations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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