Yoon Holds Breakfast and Summit Meeting with President Macron... Exploring Future Cooperation Between Korea and France

Held for the First Time in 5 Months Since Yoon's Visit to Paris Last June

President Yoon Suk-yeol, visiting Paris, France, held a summit meeting combined with breakfast with French President Emmanuel Macron on the 24th (local time). This is the first summit between the two leaders in five months since President Yoon visited Paris in June to attend the General Assembly of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE).

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon attended the Korea-France summit combined with breakfast held at the ?lys?e Palace in Paris with President Macron. Before the meeting, the French honor guard and military band were lined up in the Cour d'Honneur, the front courtyard of the ?lys?e Palace, to welcome President Yoon. Nine honor guards wearing helmets and holding ceremonial sabers (sabre swords) stood in formation on both sides of the central entrance.

As President Yoon appeared in the courtyard in his vehicle, the military band played music. Then, President Macron, dressed in a black suit and black tie, walked out from the central entrance to greet President Yoon's car.

President Yoon, wearing a dark navy suit and red tie, got out of the vehicle and lightly embraced President Macron with their left arms. President Yoon greeted President Macron by saying, "Great to see you again."

The two leaders took photos at the central entrance of the ?lys?e Palace before entering the building.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who visited France to promote the Busan Expo bid, is shaking hands with President Emmanuel Macron at the Korea-France breakfast and summit held at the ?lys?e Palace in Paris on the 24th (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

During this breakfast summit, Presidents Yoon and Macron are expected to evaluate the strengthened Korea-France relations since their last summit in June and reaffirm their cooperation.

Before their June summit, the two presidents announced in a joint press release that their countries would closely cooperate on advanced technology, future industries, North Korean nuclear issues, and North Korean human rights.

A senior official from the Presidential Office told reporters that the summit agenda is expected to focus on cooperation in economic fields including science and technology, and to explore the direction of bilateral relations toward a better future.

He added, "Since this is a summit combined with breakfast, it will be an opportunity for informal dialogue," and "The meeting is expected to proceed in a more intimate and close atmosphere between the two leaders."

This Korea-France summit between President Yoon and President Macron was reportedly arranged at the request of the French government.

After completing a state visit to the United Kingdom the previous day, President Yoon moved to Paris and will continue his final campaign to host the 2030 Busan Expo by engaging with BIE member country representatives until the 25th.

Upon arriving in France the previous day, President Yoon hosted a dinner for the BIE delegation and requested their support for Busan's bid to host the 2030 Expo.

The host city for the 2030 Expo will be decided by an anonymous vote of 182 member countries at the BIE General Assembly on the 28th. Busan is competing against Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Rome, Italy.