South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Seoul on Friday (3 April) to strengthen defence collaboration and address economic and energy challenges arising from the ongoing war in Iran. Macron’s visit, the first French presidential state visit to South Korea since 2015, follows a stop in Japan and aims to reinforce France’s strategic and economic presence in the region.
Key developments:
• The leaders committed to securing safe maritime transport through the Strait of Hormuz and enhancing energy security amid disrupted oil flows.
• France and South Korea agreed to deepen defence ties, including joint exercises and cooperation in military production and critical capabilities.
• Preliminary agreements were signed on critical minerals, semiconductors, quantum technologies, nuclear energy, and wind power.
• Bilateral trade targets were raised to $20 billion by 2030, up from $15 billion in 2025.
Macron also engaged with students at Yonsei University, attended a business forum with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, and promoted French-Korean industrial collaboration. Cultural diplomacy featured K-pop performances and exchanges of music memorabilia.
ℹ️ Reuters
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