▲ South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (from L to R); his wife, Kim Hea Kyung; French first lady Brigitte Macron; and French President Emmanuel Macron during a state dinner at the Elysee Palace on Sept. 8, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ This image, provided by Cheong Wa Dae, shows a jade-green celadon-decorated "gayageum," a traditional Korean string instrument, gifted to French President Emmanuel Macron and a clutch decorated with traditional Korean art gifted to his wife, Brigitte Macron, during a state dinner they hosted for South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Sept. 8, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

By Park Boram

PARIS, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was awarded the highest state decoration by French President Emmanuel Macron in recognition of his contribution to bilateral ties, a presidential spokesperson has said.

Macron conferred the Grand Cross, the highest rank of the Legion of Honour order of merit, on Lee during a state dinner he hosted for the visiting South Korean president Tuesday night, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said.

It was in recognition of Lee's contributions to improving South Korea-France friendship and was an expression of the highest honor, Kang said.

The dinner banquet was attended by Lee, first lady Kim Hea Kyung and more than 10 South Korean business leaders, including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon.

During the gathering, Lee said he had become a "copain," or a friend, with Macron through his ongoing trip to France, expressing hope for an everlasting friendship.

The South Korean president also called for expanding bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, culture and other areas based on the friendship and solidarity built over the past 140 years of diplomatic ties.

Lee gifted Macron a jade-green celadon-decorated "gayageum," a traditional Korean string instrument, along with French-language editions of novels by Nobel Prize-winning South Korean write Han Kang, the spokesperson said.

Lee is visiting France from Sunday to Wednesday, which included a summit with President Macron the previous day, during which they agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in advanced industries and others.

This year marks the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

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