Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun Discusses Cooperation with French Ambassador Philippe Bertoux

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Chung Jun-sung] Suwon Special-Status Mayor Lee Jae-jun met with French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux to discuss cooperation measures. Ambassador Bertoux visited Suwon City Hall on the 16th to call on Mayor Lee.

Mayor Lee explained, "Suwon has a monument to commemorate the French military's participation in the Korean War, and Ajou University in Suwon was established in 1973 under a Korea-France agreement. Suwon and France have deep ties."

He continued, "2026 marks the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations, and if there are commemorative projects that Suwon can participate in, we will actively cooperate."

Ambassador Bertoux said, "I thank Mayor Lee Jae-jun for expressing the will to cooperate. As we mark 140 years of Korea-France diplomatic relations, I hope the governments of both nations and major cities will pursue commemorative projects in diverse fields including culture and arts, economy, and people-to-people exchanges."

Mayor Lee and Ambassador Bertoux agreed to cooperate on the maintenance of the French military participation monument and elevating the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival as a global festival.

Prior to the discussion, Mayor Lee guided Ambassador Bertoux through the Saebit Civil Petition Office and the Integrated Civil Service Center.

The French UN military battalion, which landed in Busan on November 28, 1950—five months after the outbreak of the Korean War—and assembled in Suwon, was attached to the U.S. 2nd Division and participated in combat. Of 3,421 French troops, 288 were killed in action (including 18 Korean soldiers attached to French forces). The French military participation monument was constructed by the Ministry of Defense in 1974 and was transferred to Suwon City.

In May 2023, Suwon City established a sister city relationship with Tours, a representative tourism city in France, and continues to maintain exchanges.