KAIST announced on Thursday, September 11 that president Kwang Hyung Lee will be awarded the Officier (Officer) medal of the Légion d'Honneur, France's highest honor, at 3 p.m. at the French Ambassador's residence in Korea.
The Légion d'Honneur is the highest-ranking order of merit bestowed by the French government to individuals who have contributed to the development of France and the international community in various fields such as military, academia, culture, science, and industry. The award recognizes President Lee's academic and scientific achievements as the head of KAIST and his significant contributions to strengthening the close cooperative relationship between Korea and France.
As an alumnus of the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA Lyon), President Kwang Hyung Lee has long led Franco-Korean cooperation in research and innovation. In 2003, he was awarded the Chevalier (Knight) medal of the French Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of Academic Palms)
Since taking office as president, he has further focused on global collaboration, expanding joint projects and academic exchanges with French universities and research institutions, including École Polytechnique. He has also encouraged interdisciplinary convergence research and emphasized entrepreneurship to ensure that research outcomes lead to commercialization and industrialization. He has expanded international cooperation, including establishing a partnership with New York University (NYU) and securing a Silicon Valley campus, and has contributed to the development of friendly relations between the two countries as a member of the Korea-France Club.
In a congratulatory letter, French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux stated, "This award is a tribute to President Kwang Hyung Lee's exceptional academic and scientific achievements, and we highly appreciate his forward-looking vision demonstrated through the promotion of Franco-Korean cooperation and the strengthening of international partnerships." He added, "We hope this will serve as a catalyst for further strengthening the cooperation between our two countries."
President Lee expressed his feelings by saying, "It is a great honor to receive France's highest-ranking order of merit. Based on the spirit of open science that KAIST pursues, I will further expand global research cooperation to prepare for the future of humanity with France, Korea, and the international community."
The Légion d'Honneur was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and has since been awarded to prominent figures from around the world. In the field of science, recipients include Marie Curie (a two-time Nobel laureate) and Alexander Fleming (discoverer of penicillin). Political and diplomatic recipients include Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II. In the cultural and artistic fields, Audrey Hepburn, Steven Spielberg, and Elton John have received the medal.
With this award, KAIST plans to further strengthen its cooperation with France and, building on this, expand joint research and talent exchanges with the international community to establish itself as a leading model for global scientific and technological cooperation.