South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Lee expressed hope to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and deepen cooperation in culture, security, and technologies. The meeting followed their encounter at the G7 summit in Canada in June, ahead of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.
On November 22, 2025, during the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South African President Lee Jae Myung held a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron. Lee stated, "I hope to upgrade the two countries' bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership and bolster cooperation across various fields, including culture, the economy, security and cutting-edge technologies."
Lee expressed appreciation for France's deployment of troops to support South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War, noting that the French Revolution had a sizable effect on the development of South Korea's democracy. Macron said France hopes to expand cooperation in security and emerging technologies, such as quantum, artificial intelligence (AI), space, nuclear, and renewable energy. He thanked South Korea for its "clear commitment" on issues related to Ukraine and other matters important to France.
According to the presidential office, Lee expressed South Korea's desire to pursue "mutually complementary" cooperation with France in the defense industry and expand collaboration in AI, the space industry, and culture. The two leaders discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula and regional issues, voicing hope for closer cooperation. Lee invited Macron to visit South Korea next year to mark the 140th anniversary of bilateral relations. In response, Macron said it would be "a great opportunity to prepare the visit," adding he was "excited" about traveling to Korea.
The talks highlighted historical ties and sought to build a forward-looking partnership between the two nations.
