President Lee to Host Friendship Dinner with Macron Today...Gifts Include 'Gojong Banwha' and BTS Signed CD

French President Visits Korea for the First Time in 11 Years
Michelin-Starred Chef Son Jongwon Presents Dinner
Contemporary Music Performance with the Geomungo
Three Special Gifts, Including Macarons, Prepared for Macron's Stay

President Lee Jae-myung and his spouse will host a friendship dinner on April 2 for French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse, who are visiting South Korea as state guests.

Kang Yoo-jung, chief spokesperson of the Presidential Office, announced in a written briefing that President Lee and First Lady, together with President Macron and his wife, will meet at Sangchunjae in the Blue House on April 3, prior to the official schedule.

This visit by President Macron marks the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It is the first visit by a French president to South Korea in 11 years since President Hollande's visit in 2015, and President Macron's first trip to Korea since taking office in 2017. This will be the third meeting between President Lee and President Macron, following the G7 and G20 summits.

President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands ahead of a bilateral meeting at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on the 22nd (local time). November 23, 2025 Yonhap News Photo

The friendship dinner will feature a total of six dishes. Each dish is themed to symbolize harmony and friendship between the two countries, under the titles: "Greeting of Welcome," "A Connection Brought by Spring," "Gastronomic Exchange," "Hospitality and Devotion," "Exchange and Friendship of Two Countries Expressed with Subtle Charcoal Aroma," and "A Jewel Box Containing Korea's Memories and Light." The dinner wine selection will include one type each of white and red wine, along with a traditional Korean liquor. The cuisine will be prepared personally by Michelin-starred Chef Son Jong-won, who specializes in both Korean and Western cuisine.

After the dinner, musician Park Dawool will perform a contemporary music piece using the traditional Korean instrument, the geomungo. Park is set to play two pieces: "Secret Garden," inspired by the rear garden of Changdeokgung Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and "Geomun-toy."

Additionally, President Lee and the First Lady have prepared a "Gojong Banwha Homage" as a gift for President Macron. Banwha, meaning "flowers raised on a plate," is a craftwork where gemstone petals are attached to a wooden base. Emperor Gojong once presented such a piece to President Sadi Carnot in 1886 to commemorate Korea-France diplomatic ties. The peach blossoms adorning this gift symbolize good luck, prosperity, and abundance, expressing wishes for a new beginning in Korea-France relations and the everlasting prosperity of both nations, according to the Presidential Office.

For Madame Brigitte Macron, the gifts will include a Western-style tableware set made with advanced pottery techniques, as well as signed CDs from BTS, Stray Kids, and G-Dragon, reflecting her interest in K-pop.

In the accommodation where President Macron and his spouse are staying, three welcome gifts crafted by the South Korean national team, winners of the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie (Bakery World Cup) held in Paris in 2026, have been placed. The gifts include a handicraft piece in the shape of the Eiffel Tower, a lucky pouch bread, and macarons made in the style of Amiens, President Macron’s hometown.

Meanwhile, President Macron and his spouse will be welcomed at Seoul Airport by Kwon O-eul, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, as well as protocol officials, the acting ambassador of France to Korea and spouse, and the director-general for European affairs. Afterwards, they will visit the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan to lay a wreath at the monument for French veterans of the Korean War, before proceeding to the dinner venue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.