South Korean president gives Macron Han Kang books and says they have become true “copains”

President Lee Jae Myung brought Emmanuel Macron a celadon gayageum and three Han Kang novels as symbols of the relationship between South Korea and France. At a state dinner hosted by Macron in Paris, Lee said the visit had made the two leaders “true copains,” friends who share bread.

Before the dinner, Macron awarded Lee the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest-ranking distinction, and gave Lee’s wife, Kim Hye Kyung, the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit. Kang Yoo-jung, a senior presidential spokesperson, said the honors recognized contributions to friendship between the two countries and represented the highest level of treatment for the presidential couple.

Seventeen prominent figures from business and culture attended the dinner. They included Samsung Electronics executive chairman Lee Jae-yong, LS Group chairman Koo Ja-eun, Hyosung Group chairman Cho Hyun-joon, and representatives from Nexon Korea, SLL, the Busan International Film Festival, the Korean Film Council and the Korea Creative Content Agency. Singer Hwasa gave a solo performance near the end of the evening.

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I think we have become true copains, friends who share bread.

In his dinner speech, Lee recalled meeting veterans of the Battle of Jipyeong-ri during a wreath-laying ceremony that morning and said tears had suddenly welled up. He urged the countries to expand cooperation in nuclear power, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technology, critical minerals, culture and people-to-people exchanges, building on 140 years of diplomatic friendship.

Lee chose the gifts with Macron’s interests and earlier comments in mind. The miniature celadon gayageum reflected Macron’s previous visit to South Korea, when he watched a performance of traditional Korean string instruments, as well as his interest in music. Lee also gave Macron French and Korean editions of Han Kang’s “I Do Not Say Goodbye,” “Human Acts” and “The Vegetarian,” recalling Macron’s earlier comparison of the countries’ relationship to the golden thread mentioned in Han’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech. For Brigitte Macron, Lee presented a recording of Ravel’s complete piano works performed by Cho Seong-jin and a lacquered mother-of-pearl clutch made from layered hemp cloth.

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This recognizes the contribution to strengthening friendly relations between South Korea and France and represents the highest level of honor for our presidential couple.