▲ South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (L) meets Yael Braun-Pivet, speaker of the French National Assembly, at her office in Paris on Sept. 9, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) and Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, shake hands during a meeting in Paris on Sept. 9, 2026. (Yonhap)

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in last 3 paras; ADDS photo)

By Park Boram

PARIS, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday met with Yael Braun-Pivet, speaker of the French National Assembly, expressing hope that the two countries could open a new chapter of cooperation for the next 140 years.

The meeting came as the two countries seek to deepen cooperation to mark the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Lee is on a two-day state visit to Paris that began Tuesday, part of a four-day trip to France that started in Nice.

"I hope the governments and national assemblies of South Korea and France can open a new 140 years (of cooperation) between the two countries," Lee wrote in a guestbook after arriving at Braun-Pivet's office.

During the meeting, Lee called for the French parliament's role in elevating South Korea-France relations, as well as the development of democracy, South Korean presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said.

The South Korean president, in particular, noted that the potential for expanded cooperation between the two countries is high in various sectors, including trade, investment, advanced technology and social policy, highlighting the importance of cooperation between their assemblies.

Braun-Pivet responded that Lee's special attention to the role of the French National Assembly was highly meaningful, according to Kang.

Lee later held a separate meeting with Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Lee cited economic polarization as one of the major causes of worsening conflicts between countries, groups and individuals, stressing the importance of fairly distributing the benefits and opportunities of growth. Lee also called for the organization's attention to policies and efforts to ease polarization.

Cormann stressed the OECD's focus on ensuring open markets and rules-based trade, expressing hope for cooperation with South Korea on such issues.

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