▲ President Lee Jae Myung (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron hold talks on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in this Nov. 22, 2025, file photo. (Yonhap)

Lee-Macron-dinner

Lee to host dinner for France's Macron ahead of summit

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung is set to host a dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday to mark his state visit and present symbolic gifts aimed at further deepening bilateral ties, Cheong Wa Dae said.

Macron arrived in Seoul on a two-day visit ahead of summit talks scheduled for Friday, marking his first visit to South Korea since taking office in 2017.

Upon arrival, Macron paid tribute at the War Memorial of Korea to honor French troops who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.

He is scheduled to have dinner at Sangchunjae, a traditional reception hall within the Cheong Wa Dae compound, with Lee, accompanied by first lady Brigitte Macron. It will be prepared by Son Jong-won, a renowned chef who appeared in Season 2 of Netflix's hit series "Culinary Class Wars."

Lee has prepared a gift for Macron, an ornamental piece reinterpreting a present given by Emperor Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) to French President Sadi Carnot in 1886 to commemorate the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

The gift demonstrates Lee's wishes to open a new chapter in the Seoul-Paris relations and promote lasting prosperity for both countries, according to Kang.

Gifts for Brigitte Macron include a set of tableware as well as signed albums by renowned K-pop artists, such as BTS, Stray Kids and G-Dragon, reflecting her interest in Korean pop culture.

Macron's visit comes as South Korea and France mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The two countries established formal ties in 1886, when the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation was signed between France and the Joseon Dynasty.

Friday's summit will mark their third in-person meeting, following talks on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada and the Group of 20 summit in South Africa last year.

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