main

Home > Press Release >

Press Release

View old bulletin board

Title [CICI Korea] [Herald Interview] ‘Innovating France-Korea ties buttresses global governance’ [2018-01-22 The Korea Herald]
Posted by webmaster Hit 4415 Date 2018.01.23

“We believe that strengthening our bilateral relations is important not only for our two countries, but also in terms of improving multilateralism.”


Joachim Son-Forget, a French National Assemblyman who represents French citizens overseas, is an industrious middleman bridging France and the world through innovative enterprises. 

Found abandoned on the streets of Korea in 1983, Son-Forget was adopted to a French family at 3 months old. There, he grew up to become a radiologist and cognitive scientist, trained pianist and avid karate practitioner, before joining the party of French President Emmanuel Macron.

The 34-year-old wunderkind represents the sixth constituency for French citizens overseas in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. He is also the president of the France-Korea Friendship Group, a parliamentary organization entrusted with smoothing bilateral political exchanges. 

For his efforts to strengthen ties between France and Korea, Son-Forget was awarded the 14th Korea Image Award by the Corea Image Communications Institute on Jan. 16. In an exclusive interview with The Korea Herald he expressed feeling honored by the award and vowed to “introduce more of Korea to France and more of France to Korea.”



Joachim Son-Forget, a French National Assemblyman, represents French citizens overseas. (Corea Image Communications Institute)


“The first similarity between the administrations of President Macron and Korean President Moon Jae-in is that they won the elections by riding on the widespread sentiments of Korean and French peoples, who have long ardently desired change in their countries’ politics,” the politician said. “In terms of policies, both governments are advocates of progressive pragmatism. The key area of cooperation lies in combatting climate change and promoting sustainable development. Korea is a major partner of France in implementing the Paris climate agreement.” 


The Frenchman said he was heavily involved in international relations -- including North Korea and Korean peninsula security, economic relations with South Korea and Nigeria, protection of seas and oceans and defense and strategy -- as a member of the commission on foreign affairs. Also as president of the friendship association, he is charged with promoting parliamentary diplomacy and intergovernmental affairs, encompassing innovation, economic partnership, cultural and academic exchanges as well as strategy and defense.


“The France-Korea relations are on the soundest footing,” Son-Forget claimed, mentioning a channel for bilateral strategic dialogue and vibrant parliamentary exchanges through the friendship association with more than 50 members, who have expressed grave concerns about the security dynamic on the Korean Peninsula.


“We believe that strengthening our bilateral relations is important not only for our two countries, but also in terms of improving multilateralism.” 


Son-Forget expounded that France and Korea should understand their relations in the context of irreversible and irrepressible global cooperation, citing the North Korean nuclear conundrum, which threatens not only South Korea’s sovereignty, but also the world’s security.


For his efforts to strengthen ties between France and Korea, Son-Forget, beside Corea Image Communications Institute President Choi Jung-wha, was awarded the 14th Korea Image Award by CICI on Jan. 16. (CICI)


Turning to economic issues, the parliamentarian stressed that he now devotes his energy to new strategies to use the global governance architecture and spur national development. As co-president of the Global Variations Institute, an innovation-driven think tank with a global outreach, he oversees research in the Internet of Things, blockchain, aerospace engineering and behavioral economics, among other sectors.


“These initiatives have to be based on global governance and should ultimately improve its operation for a better future,” he underlined.


Son-Forget touched on Macron’s ambitious reform initiatives -- the central plank of the young president’s vision of a new France -- saying the government lowered the corporate tax from 33 percent to 25 percent to lure foreign investments. Macron’s En Marche! (In Motion!) party won a sweeping victory in last year’s June elections and has used that energy to overhaul France’s rigid labor laws.


“France has been unable to carry out labor reforms over the last 10 years due to fierce resistance from labor groups. But the current government has managed to garner enough support to enact and implement these critical and necessary reforms,” he said. 


“It’s a win-win. The point is to facilitate hiring and firing of employees, but not in a way that hurts either the employees or employers. By providing vocational training and support to the unemployed during their transition to new and better jobs, we give them freedom, while increasing social and professional mobility. We also give tax incentives to employers.”


The reform act passed the French National Assembly late last year and will apply to businesses over the coming months, he added. 

No. Title Posted by Date Hit
555 [CICI Korea] Interview with YouTubers Josh & Ollie of 'Korean Englishman' [VIDEO] [Korea Times 2019-01-13] webmaster 2019.01.18 8917
554 [CICI Korea] [INTERVIEW] 'Korean Englishman' falls in love with Korean food [Korea Times 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.18 14609
553 [CICI Korea] Park Sae-un talks about her story of Korean girl becoming France's top ballerina [코리아타임즈 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.18 4412
552 [CICI Korea] "Love you Baby" Josh♥Gabriela Kook, Lovely shoulder companion photo shot [Herald POP 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.18 24777
551 [CICI Korea] Enjoying Gopchang and Soju, we are 'Korean Englishman' [Chosun Ilbo 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.18 2993
550 [CICI Korea] Korean Englishman·Ballerina Sae-eun Park, recieves Korea Image Award [Edaily 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.18 4293
549 [CICI Korea] [★Hashtag]"Love you baby"…Gabriela Kook,'♥Josh'Congratulations for being awarded [Xsports News 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.18 4608
548 [CICI Korea] Gabriela Kook, deeply moved by Josh receiving Korea Image Award "Thank you and I love you"[SNS★Cut][Newsen 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.17 15685
547 [CICI Korea] "Opportunity comes when you are ready" [Seoul Shinmun 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.17 2906
546 [CICI Korea] Korean Englishman'·Ballerina Sae-eun Park, recieves Korea Image Award [Chosun Ilbo(Digital) 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.17 2644
545 [CICI Korea] Sae-eun Park receives 'Korea Image Award' [Chosun Ilbo 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.17 2513
544 [CICI Korea] "Korean culture-Cusine is 'hidden treasure'…will spread the word"[Donga Ilbo 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.17 2820
543 [CICI Korea] CICI, Hosts Korea Image Award Ceremony [Joogang Ilbo 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.17 2690
542 [CICI Korea] CICI announces 2019 award winners for contributions to spreading positive image of Korea [ArirangTV 2019-01-10] webmaster 2019.01.17 2350
541 [CICI Korea] CICI announces 2019 award winners for contributions to spreading positive image of Korea [ArirangTV 2019-01-11] webmaster 2019.01.17 2885
540 [CICI Korea] CICI announces 2019 award winners for their contribution to spreading a positive image of Korea [ArirangTV 2019-01-10] webmaster 2019.01.17 3102
539 [CICI Korea] "My fellow ballet collegues thinks Korean dancers are diligent" [Hankook Ilbo 2019-01-10] webmaster 2019.01.17 2867
538 [CICI Korea] CICI honors YouTubers, ballerina for promoting Korea’s image [Korea Herald 2019-01-10] webmaster 2019.01.17 4197
537 [CICI Korea] Korea Image Award Awardees, Josh&Ollie of Youtube channel 'Korean Englishman'·Ballerina Sae-eun Park"Hoping Korea to be well known" [Segye Ilbo 2019-01-10] webmaster 2019.01.16 2658
536 [CICI Korea] "Ever-changing Korea, contents for Korean Englishman doesn't dry up" [Maeil Business Newspaper 2019-01-10] webmaster 2019.01.16 3182

HOME SITEMAP CONTACT US KOREAN goMain instagram facebook youtube