Event report • The Chamber
France and Korea Mark 140 Years of Diplomatic Relations as Major Investments Highlight Growing Strategic Partnership
High-level symposium at the French National Assembly brings together political and business leaders.
French and Korean political, diplomatic and business leaders gathered at the French National Assembly on October 16 for a high-level symposium commemorating 140 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, at a time of growing industrial investment and strategic cooperation.
Co-organized by the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), KEY, ANAFF-ONU Corée, the France-Korea Forum and the Centre Monclar, the event brought together prominent figures and representatives of leading companies and institutions, including Korean Air, Air Liquide, OPmobility, Cosmetic Valley, KITA and MEDEF International.
Among the distinguished participants were Louis Gallois, former Chairman of EADS (Airbus) and SNCF; Philippe Gautier, CEO of MEDEF International; Hyun-jin Shim, President of Korean Air Lines Paris and Chairman of the Korea-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Paris; Philippe Li, President of KEY and Honorary Chairman of the FKCCI; and David-Pierre Jalicon, Chairman of the FKCCI.
The symposium also featured H.E. Hyun-wook Kwon, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to France, alongside French parliamentarians and diplomatic representatives. The program included video messages from Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Song Young-gil, Member of the Korean National Assembly and Special Presidential Adviser for Peace and Diplomacy to President Lee Jae-myung.
The discussions covered the historical foundations of bilateral relations, the legacy of the Korean War, geopolitical developments on the Korean Peninsula and the expansion of political, institutional and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Beyond the diplomatic anniversary, the event took place against the backdrop of major French investments in Korea, illustrating the increasing depth of bilateral economic relations. In September 2026, OPmobility signed an agreement to acquire Hyundai Mobis’ lighting business for KRW 600 billion, while Air Liquide completed its KRW 4.6 trillion acquisition of Korean industrial gas company DIG Airgas earlier this year, reinforcing its position in Korea’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
The momentum also extends to innovation and consumer industries. On October 15 in Paris, the FKCCI and Cosmetic Valley signed a new Memorandum of Understanding, strengthening cooperation between the French and Korean cosmetics industries. The agreement was signed in the presence of Philippe Li and Marc-Antoine Jamet, Secretary General of LVMH and President of Cosmetic Valley, highlighting new opportunities for collaboration between two of the world’s leading beauty ecosystems.
These developments reflect the broader transformation of France-Korea relations, from longstanding diplomatic and commercial exchanges to increasingly integrated industrial ecosystems, reciprocal investment and technological cooperation. Throughout the symposium, participants explored how this partnership can continue to evolve in response to shared geopolitical, economic and technological challenges.
The event also marked the 40th anniversary of the FKCCI. On this occasion, David-Pierre Jalicon presented the Chamber’s commemorative 140/40 book, celebrating 140 years of diplomatic relations and four decades of economic cooperation between France and Korea.
Bringing together leading figures from politics, diplomacy, academia and industry, the symposium highlighted a partnership built on shared history and increasingly shaped by concrete investment, innovation and long-term strategic cooperation.
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