Macron Presents France’s Highest Honor to President Lee

【Financial News, Paris, France—Reporter Seok-woo Seong】 French President Emmanuel Macron presented President Lee Jae Myung with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest distinction, on the 8th (local time). He also awarded Kim Hye-kyung the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit, extending the highest level of courtesy to the presidential couple during their state visit.
Kang Yoo-jung, senior presidential spokesperson, said in a written briefing that President Macron presented the decorations to President Lee Jae Myung and Kim Hye-kyung before the state dinner at the Élysée Palace. The presidential office explained, "This reflects high recognition of their contributions to strengthening friendly relations between Korea and France and extends the highest level of courtesy to our presidential couple."
Following the decoration ceremony, President Lee Jae Myung and Kim Hye-kyung attended the state dinner hosted by President Macron. In addition to government officials from both countries, 17 prominent figures from the business and cultural sectors also attended.
In his dinner speech, President Lee Jae Myung recalled meeting veterans who had fought in the Battle of Jipyeong-ri during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe that morning, saying, "Tears suddenly welled up." He then emphasized the need to expand cooperation into nuclear energy, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, quantum technology, critical minerals, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, building on the friendship and solidarity accumulated over 140 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and France.
He also highlighted his personal rapport with President Macron. President Lee Jae Myung said that through this visit, he felt they had become true "copains," meaning friends who share bread, and expressed hopes for lasting friendship between the two countries and a future they would build together.
President Lee Jae Myung also prepared a gift that would remind President Macron of his state visit to Korea in April. Considering President Macron’s interest in music and his having attended a traditional string-music performance during that visit, he presented him with a celadon gayageum, a miniature gayageum made in the style of celadon. In light of President Macron’s comparison of the "golden thread" mentioned in author Han Kang’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech to Korea-France relations during a luncheon speech at the time, President Lee also presented Korean and French editions of *We Do Not Part*, *Human Acts*, and *The Vegetarian*.
To Brigitte Macron, he gave a complete collection of Ravel’s piano works performed by pianist Seong-Jin Cho, along with a lacquered and mother-of-pearl inlaid nacre clutch bag.
The state dinner was attended by business leaders including Ryu Jin, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI); Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics; Koo Ja-eun, chairman of LS Group; and Cho Hyun-joon, chairman of Hyosung Group, as well as figures from the cultural sector. Singer Hwasa gave a solo performance at the end of the dinner.
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