Lee's trip to France builds fresh momentum to deepen 140-year-old relationship

President Lee Jae Myung’s trip to France brought fresh momentum to South Korea-France ties, with Seoul officials saying the two sides signed 16 agreements and expanded cooperation in defense, nuclear energy, AI and culture. Lee met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris after co-chairing the first joint meeting on film industry development in Nice. Seoul officials said the visits strengthened trust between the leaders and could open a new phase in the 140-year relationship.

South Korea and France signed 16 agreements before and during Lee Jae Myung’s trip, including nine on Tuesday on the sidelines of his summit with Emmanuel Macron.

One agreement calls for upgrading the pact on military secret information protection to strengthen cooperation in national defense and the defense industry.

Two memorandums of understanding call for joint research and development projects in AI, semiconductor and quantum technology, along with cooperation in industrial policies and trade.

Samsung Electronics Co. will become a strategic investor in French AI startup Mistral AI under a fresh partnership tied to an exclusive AI model for Samsung.

Lee and Macron agreed to expand cooperation in AI, quantum technology and nuclear energy into manufacturing and the global market, while launching a high-level dialogue on civil nuclear energy.

Published Sep 10, 2026 3:09 am KST

Updated Sep 10, 2026 7:20 am KST

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ahead of a state dinner at the Elysee Palace during a state visit to France, in Paris, France, Tuesday. Reuters-Yonhap

PARIS — The South Korean and French leaders may have created a rare opportunity for their countries' bilateral relations, 140 years after they were first forged, Seoul officials said Wednesday, pointing to a series of agreements signed this week that will likely strengthen their partnerships in a wide range of areas, including nuclear power plants and artificial intelligence (AI).

President Lee Jae Myung wrapped up his four-day trip to France earlier in the day, heading home with a handful of agreements that include those calling for enhanced cooperation in areas such as defense manufacturing, nuclear energy and other advanced industries.

"It marked a chance to concretely and practically develop cooperation between the two countries," Seoul's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said of Lee's trip that included a two-day state visit to Paris.

The South Korean president began his France trip in Nice, where he and French President Emmanuel Macron co-chaired the countries' first-ever joint meeting on ways to develop the film industry. Lee and Macron held summit talks in Paris on Tuesday, marking their second bilateral talks this year following their meeting in Seoul in April.

"With this week's meeting, the two leaders have made reciprocal state visits to each other's country in about five months, solidifying the trust and bond between the leaders," Wi said earlier.

In addition to their personal relationship, the leaders' latest summit may have created fresh momentum for South Korea-France ties, Seoul officials said, noting the countries have signed 16 agreements before and during Lee's trip to France, including nine signed Tuesday on the sidelines of the Lee-Macron summit.

One of the agreements calls for upgrading an existing pact on military secret information protection between the two countries, as they seek to strengthen the framework for cooperation in national defense and the defense industry, according to Cheong Wa Dae officials.

Two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed this week call for joint research and development projects between South Korean and French companies in the AI, semiconductor and quantum technology sectors, as well as enhanced cooperation in industrial policies, trade and other areas.

Under a freshly signed partnership between Samsung Electronics Co. and French AI startup Mistral AI, the South Korean tech giant will become a "strategic investor" in the French firm that will develop an exclusive AI model for Samsung that could protect its semiconductor information.

During the summit, Lee and Macron also agreed to expand their countries' existing cooperation in the AI, quantum technology and nuclear energy sectors to manufacturing and the global market.

On nuclear energy, in particular, Seoul and Paris agreed to collaborate in developing next-generation nuclear reactors and diversifying supply chains, while launching a high-level dialogue channel for cooperation on civil nuclear energy.

Such an agreement, Wi said, "has created an important axis of cooperation," stressing that the two countries, who are currently competitors when it comes to nuclear power plant exports, may become partners.

The cultural sector was also a major area of cooperation for South Korea and France, both of which enjoy global cultural influence.

Alongside Macron, Lee co-chaired the Lumiere Summit held in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, on Monday, joining discussions on challenges facing the industry amid the emergence of AI and shifting consumer preferences.

During the event, the two leaders unveiled a joint investment initiative for the cinema and broader visual industries, under which each country will invest 500 million euros ($581.5 million) over the next five years to support the sectors and promote joint projects.

On the international front, the two leaders held "in-depth" discussion on issues related to the conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz during their summit, according to Seoul officials.

"South Korea and France will continue their close cooperation in ensuring the prompt recovery of freedom of navigation and supply chains in the Strait of Hormuz," Lee said at a joint press announcement with Macron following their Tuesday summit.

"Based on the deep friendship and trust built over the past 140 years, we agreed to jointly open a new (door for the) next 140 years," he added, stressing that the countries mark the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year.

李在明总统的法国之行给韩法关系注入了新的活力。首尔官员表示，双方签署了16项协议，并扩大了在国防、核能、人工智能和文化领域的合作。李在明在尼斯共同主持了首次电影产业发展联合会议后，在巴黎会见了法国总统马克龙。首尔官员表示，此次访问增进了两国领导人之间的互信，并可能开启韩法140年友好关系的新篇章。

在李在明访法前后，韩国和法国签署了 16 项协议，其中包括周二在他与法国总统马克龙举行峰会期间签署的 9 项协议。

其中一项协议要求升级军事秘密信息保护条约，以加强在国防和国防工业领域的合作。

两份谅解备忘录呼吁在人工智能、半导体和量子技术领域开展联合研发项目，并在产业政策和贸易方面开展合作。

三星电子将成为法国人工智能初创公司 Mistral AI 的战略投资者，双方达成一项新的合作关系，该合作关系与三星独有的人工智能模型相关。

李和马克龙同意将人工智能、量子技术和核能领域的合作扩展到制造业和全球市场，同时启动关于民用核能的高级别对话。

发布于2026年9月10日凌晨3:09（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月10日 上午7:20（韩国标准时间）

周二，法国总统马克龙在巴黎爱丽舍宫迎接韩国总统李在明，随后举行国宴。李在明正在对法国进行国事访问。（路透社-韩联社）

巴黎——首尔官员周三表示，韩国和法国领导人可能为两国双边关系创造了一个难得的机会，这是两国建交140周年之际的一次重要契机。他们指出，本周签署的一系列协议可能会加强两国在包括核电站和人工智能（AI）在内的广泛领域的合作。

李在明总统当天早些时候结束了对法国为期四天的访问，回国时带回了一系列协议，其中包括呼吁在国防制造、核能和其他先进产业等领域加强合作的协议。

“这标志着两国在具体和实际层面发展合作的机会，”首尔国家安全顾问魏成乐在谈到李明博的访问时说道，此次访问包括对巴黎进行为期两天的国事访问。

韩国总统李明博的法国之行从尼斯开始。在尼斯，他与法国总统马克龙共同主持了两国历史上首次关于发展电影产业的联合会议。周二，李明博和马克龙在巴黎举行了峰会会谈，这是继今年4月在首尔会晤之后，两人今年的第二次双边会谈。

“通过本周的会晤，两国领导人在短短五个月内完成了对对方国家的互访，巩固了两国领导人之间的信任和纽带，”魏先生此前表示。

首尔官员表示，除了个人关系外，两国领导人的最新峰会可能为韩法关系注入了新的动力。他们指出，在李明博访问法国之前和期间，两国已签署了16项协议，其中包括周二在李明博与马克龙峰会期间签署的9项协议。

据青瓦台官员称，其中一项协议要求升级两国之间现有的军事秘密信息保护条约，以加强两国在国防和国防工业领域的合作框架。

本周签署的两份谅解备忘录（MOU）呼吁韩国和法国公司在人工智能、半导体和量子技术领域开展联合研发项目，并加强在产业政策、贸易和其他领域的合作。

根据三星电子与法国人工智能初创公司 Mistral AI 最新签署的合作协议，这家韩国科技巨头将成为这家法国公司的“战略投资者”，该公司将为三星开发一种专属的人工智能模型，该模型可以保护其半导体信息。

在峰会期间，李和马克龙还同意将两国在人工智能、量子技术和核能领域的现有合作扩展到制造业和全球市场。

尤其是在核能领域，首尔和巴黎同意合作开发下一代核反应堆和实现供应链多元化，同时启动民用核能合作的高级别对话渠道。

魏先生表示，这样的协议“开辟了重要的合作轴线”，并强调目前在核电站出口方面是竞争对手的两国，未来可能会成为合作伙伴。

文化领域也是韩国和法国的主要合作领域，两国都拥有全球文化影响力。

周一，李与马克龙共同主持了在法国圣保罗德旺斯举行的 Lumiere 峰会，参与了关于人工智能兴起和消费者偏好转变给电影行业带来的挑战的讨论。

在活动期间，两国领导人公布了一项针对电影和更广泛的视觉产业的联合投资计划，根据该计划，两国将在未来五年内分别投资 5 亿欧元（5.815 亿美元）来支持这些行业并促进联合项目。

据首尔官员称，在国际方面，两国领导人在峰会期间就霍尔木兹海峡冲突相关问题进行了“深入”讨论。

李在周二与马克龙举行峰会后联合新闻发布会上表示：“韩国和法国将继续密切合作，确保霍尔木兹海峡航行自由和供应链的迅速恢复。”

“基于过去140年来建立的深厚友谊和信任，我们同意共同开启下一个140年的新篇章，”他补充道，并强调今年是两国建交140周年。