KAIST President Kwanghyung Lee Awarded France's Highest Honor, the Legion d'Honneur

KAIST announced on the 11th that President Kwanghyung Lee received the Officier medal of the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest honor, at the French ambassador's residence in Korea.

President Lee was awarded the medal in recognition of his academic and scientific achievements as president of KAIST, as well as his contributions to strengthening close cooperation between Korea and France.

Kwanghyung Lee, president of KAIST, is receiving a medal from Philippe Bertoux, French ambassador to Korea, at the French ambassador's residence in Korea on the 11th. Provided by KAIST

Since taking office as president of KAIST, Lee has focused on global cooperation, expanding joint projects and academic exchanges with French universities and research institutes such as Ecole Polytechnique.

He has also encouraged interdisciplinary research that crosses academic boundaries and emphasized entrepreneurship so that research achievements can lead to startups and industrialization. Through these efforts, KAIST has been able to broaden its international collaborations, including building a partnership with New York University and securing a campus in Silicon Valley.

Previously, in 2003, President Lee was also awarded the Chevalier, a French academic order. According to KAIST, Lee, a graduate of INSA Lyon, has long led Korea-France cooperation in research and innovation, and his contributions were recognized with the Chevalier medal.

President Lee stated, "It is a great honor to receive France's highest decoration," and added, "Based on the spirit of open science that KAIST pursues, I will continue to work to expand global research cooperation so that Korea, France, and the international community can prepare for the future of humanity together."

Meanwhile, the Legion d'Honneur is the highest honor awarded by the French government.

Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the medal has been awarded to distinguished individuals from around the world who have contributed to the advancement of France and the international community in fields such as the military, academia, culture, science, and industry.

In science, recipients include Marie Curie (two-time Nobel laureate) and Alexander Fleming (discoverer of penicillin); in politics and diplomacy, Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II; and in culture and the arts, Audrey Hepburn, Steven Spielberg, and Elton John have all received the Legion d'Honneur.

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