By Xu Aiying and Yoon Sojung
Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in and French President Emmanuel Macron shared a special time of friendship during the five hour-long state dinner on Oct. 15 at Élysée Palace in Paris. The French leader displayed exceptional hospitality at the presidential residence of Élysée Palace until almost midnight, which President Moon mentioned was unprecedented as he had never received such hospitality in any other country he visited overseas.

At the dinner, the two leaders toasted “for the future peace and prosperity that Korea and France will carve out together, while reflecting on the spirit of liberty, equality and fraternity.”

President Moon had an in-depth conversation with his French counterpart about various issues such as the vision of inclusive growth, the issue of inherited wealth, fair competition, the role of a country, and international relations, including inter-Korean relations, Seoul-Tokyo relations, and the relations involving North Korea, China and the U.S.

Both leaders emphasized Seoul-Paris ties by saying that, “France and the Republic of Korea are long-standing friends and comrades.”

President Macron praised his Korean counterpart as “a man of peace” who made his path for the construction of democracy and protection of human rights.

The French leader also said that, “In order to realize the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea, France is prepared to play all given roles as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.”



After the dinner, President Macron and his wife escorted President Moon and first lady Kim to their private quarters, including a garden, a parlor, and a study room. The French presidential couple introduced the meaning of each of the areas inside the palace and explained details about the picture by Picasso on the wall and the so-called “room of Napoleon.”

Senior Secretary to the President Yoon Young-chan commenting on the overall atmosphere of the gathering in a briefing on Oct. 16, said that, “After the state dinner, President Macron called his aides and all high-profile officials who attended at the dinner to introduce them to President Moon. They got along together with Korean attendees while chatting, taking photos and even taking selfies with the two presidents.”

Senior Secretary Yoon also said that President Macron took care of data related to Korea even when he was on the flight for overseas trips.”

“It is rare for France to host a state visit for two Presidents from a single country in only two years, but former President Park Geun-hye paid a state visit in 2016; it is also unusual for France to receive a president as a state guest on his first visit,” said the senior presidential secretary.

xuaiy@korea.kr