On Friday, April 3, Cheong Wa Dae (CWD) resleased the following statement on French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife's ongoing state visit to Korea as they continue their second day of scheduled activities, which began this morning with an official welcome ceremony. On the occasion of this visit, Korea and France will upgrade their relationship from the "Comprehensive Partnership for the 21st Century" established in 2004 to a "Global Strategic Partnership" — an elevation that comes 22 years later. Through this upgrade, President Lee plans to strengthen strategic communication with France
Korea's cultural wave continues to grow in global reach and commercial impact, according to the latest annual survey released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) on March 30. Conducted across 30 countries and regions with 27,400 respondents aged 15 to 59, the 2026 Overseas Hallyu Survey — based on data collected in November–December 2025 — is the most expansive edition since the survey began in 2012, with Singapore, Chile, and Poland added to the sample for the first time. Seven in Ten Favor Korean Culture Overall favorability toward Korean cultural content stood at 69.7%, wi