Kim Hye-kyung meets Korean nuns at French monastery, expressing “deep respect” for their service

Kim Hye-kyung met Korean nuns at a monastery in Saint-Paul-de-Vence on July 7 during her state visit to France with President Lee Jae-myung. She visited the Holy Family Dominican Sisters’ monastery with Brigitte Macron, the French president’s wife.

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I have deep respect for the lives of the nuns who have cared for their neighbors and worked with the local community in an unfamiliar country for more than 40 years.

The monastery’s community has cared for and educated children since the 19th century. Korean nuns joined the community in 1982 after an introduction by the Korean priest Kim In-jung. Six of the monastery’s eight nuns are now Korean, and Sister Kim Kyung-hee has served as the congregation’s superior general since 2024.

Kim said she had “deep respect” for the nuns who had cared for their neighbors and worked with the local community in an unfamiliar country for more than 40 years. She said meeting them in person, hearing about that period and expressing her gratitude made the visit especially meaningful.

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It was even more meaningful to meet you in person today, hear about that time and express my gratitude.

Brigitte Macron also said she was impressed by the story of Korean nuns putting down roots in France and working alongside the local community for many years.

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The story of the Korean nuns who came here, put down roots and worked with the French local community for a long time was very impressive.