A delegation led by Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France Region, met Korean business and institutional representatives in Seoul on September 16 to develop commercial and technology partnerships between France and Korea.
The Île-de-France Region and the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) jointly hosted a networking reception at the Pullman Ambassador Seoul. The event brought together business executives, investors and representatives from the two countries’ innovation ecosystems.
Discussions focused on artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors, space technology, smart mobility and sustainable construction. Pécresse said the regional government aims to convert its longstanding institutional relationship with South Korea into economic, technological and scientific cooperation.
Five French companies seek Korean partners
The delegation included five companies from the Île-de-France Region: Entalpic, GenoSafe, SpaceDreamS, WhiteLab Genomics and XtreeE. They visited Korea to identify potential customers, industrial partners and investors and to assess opportunities in the Korean market.
The reception gave the companies an opportunity to present their technologies and begin discussions with Korean businesses and institutions. Their participation reflects the region’s effort to connect its innovation companies with Korea’s industrial and technology networks.
The Seoul event formed part of a broader program held in South Korea on September 15 and 16. During the visit, the delegation met major Korean industrial and technology companies and examined Korean initiatives in smart cities and autonomous mobility.
The Île-de-France Region and Gyeonggi Province also moved to renew their regional partnership through a joint action plan covering innovation, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and mobility. The two regions have maintained cooperation for 10 years.
Diplomatic anniversary adds momentum to business ties
The visit took place as France and Korea mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. The year also marks the 40th anniversary of the FKCCI, which was established in 1986 and represents more than 475 member companies.
FKCCI Chairman David-Pierre Jalicon reaffirmed the chamber’s role in connecting French and Korean companies, institutions, researchers and investors. The organization supports French companies entering and expanding in Korea and assists Korean businesses seeking opportunities in France.
That work is expected to expand through Maison France, a dedicated venue intended to support companies establishing or developing operations in either market. The initiative will provide a point of contact for businesses seeking institutional networks and market-entry assistance.
The FKCCI will also co-organize the symposium “140 Years of Friendship Between France and Korea” at the French National Assembly in Paris on October 16. The program will examine the development of bilateral relations and areas for future cooperation.
The Seoul mission placed company-level partnerships at the centre of the broader diplomatic relationship. Its next measure of progress will be whether the meetings produce investment, market-entry projects and sustained collaboration between French and Korean companies.
