[Arirang News]ROK-France Summit: Official Welcoming Ceremony

2026. 4. 3.

Hello and welcome to our special edition of Arirang News.

French President Emmanuel Macron is currently in South Korea for the first time since taking office in 2017, making him the first French leader to visit Seoul in 11 years.

In just a few moments, we will bring you live coverage of the official welcoming ceremony, ahead of the summit between President Lee and President Macron.

While we wait for that to begin, we’re joined today by Dr. Dylan Motin, Visiting Scholar at the Seoul National University Asia Center.

Dr. Motin, thanks for making the time today.

1. Could you tell us more about the significance of President Macron’s visit? And why now, given that he is set to leave office in about a year?

2. How do you see both leaders addressing the tensions in the Middle East?

3. What are some other key bilateral issues they’re likely to focus on?

4. This year marks 140 years since South Korea and France established diplomatic ties. How might today’s talks help advance bilateral relations moving forward?

5. France has invited President Lee to the G7 Leaders’ Summit in June. What’s the significance of this invitation, and what might South Korea be aiming for if it does decide to attend?

6. Another issue they might discuss in today’s talks is nuclear energy, especially since South Korea and France competed fiercely to win a Czech nuclear power plant contract. How might Seoul and Paris seek to work together in this field?

7. I’m also hearing that President Macron will hold separate meetings with executives from companies like Samsung, Hyundai Motor, and Naver. What can we expect? And how have economic ties between Korea and France evolved?

8. Macron’s visit comes at a time of great geopolitical uncertainty. In his primetime speech yesterday, President Trump said American forces will “finish the job” soon, and that the U.S. is going to hit Iran extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. Does this mean he’s determined to escalate the war for the next few weeks?

9. President Trump has been criticizing France for closing its airspace, and he also hit out at other allies, saying they aren’t doing enough around the Strait of Hormuz. How should countries like South Korea and France respond?

10. Trump said Seoul has not been helpful to Washington, despite the presence of American troops on the peninsula, close to what he called a “nuclear threat.” How should South Korea respond to this claim?

11. Trump has been hitting out at European allies over the Iran war. Some analysts say growing resistance from NATO allies exposes deepening divisions within the alliance. Given that NATO was already under strain over issues such as Ukraine and Greenland, what does this suggest about the future of the alliance?

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2026년 4월 7일 | 미디어