Macron to visit South Korea as state guest, deepen tech and security ties

France’s President Emmanuel Macron will visit South Korea as a state guest on April 2–3 at the invitation of President Lee Jae-myung, the Blue House announced. The visit will mark Macron’s first trip to Korea since taking office in 2017, and the first French president to visit Korea in 11 years. Macron will be the first European head of state to make a state visit to Korea since Lee’s administration began.

During talks with President Lee, Macron and the Korean leader are expected to broaden bilateral cooperation across multiple fields to elevate ties to a strategic, forward-looking level. The agenda includes trade and investment, advanced industries such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, space, and nuclear energy, as well as science, technology, education and culture, and people-to-people exchanges. The leaders will also discuss regional security and global issues, with France as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

France is among Korea’s top three trading partners within the European Union, highlighting deep economic ties. In addition, more than 800,000 Koreans visit France each year, underscoring the cultural and tourism linkages between the two countries.

For U.S. readers, the visit signals strengthened alignment among democratic partners on technology and security issues, with potential implications for supply chains, joint research, and technology standards in AI, quantum computing, energy, and space. Closer Korea–France collaboration could influence European policy toward technology governance and diplomacy that also touches American interests.

France’s role in global diplomacy matters for Koreans and Americans alike. As a permanent UNSC member, Paris could shape regional security coordination and multilateral approaches to North Korea and broader stability in East Asia, alongside existing U.S.-led and allied efforts.

The announcement frames the Macron visit as a milestone in a long-standing relationship built over more than 140 years, aiming to push sustainable and inclusive growth through shared innovation, culture, and people-to-people ties.