Women, future leadership take center stage at Korea-France forum marking 140 years of ties
French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux delivers congratulatory remarks during the Women, Forces of the Future, 140 Years of Korea-France Dialogue event at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, May 18. Korea Times photo by Anna J. Park
Calls for stronger women leadership and greater gender equality took center stage at a special forum at Ewha Womans University on May 18 under the theme “Women, Forces of the Future, 140 Years of Korea-France Dialogue.” The daylong event was organized to commemorate both the 140th anniversary of Ewha Womans University, along with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France.
In his welcoming remarks, French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux emphasized both the progress made and the challenges that remain in advancing gender equality.
“At the legislative, regulatory and societal levels, women’s status has made considerable progress. However, women still frequently face unfair and unacceptable environments. Such conditions can only weaken trust in systems designed by men,” Bertoux said.
“France, like Korea, is changing far too slowly. Although women are generally more highly educated than men, they remain a minority in high-paying sectors such as engineering and information technology, while making up the majority in professions with below-average wages.”
French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux delivers congratulatory remarks during the Women, Forces of the Future, 140 Years of Korea-France Dialogue event at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, May 18. Korea Times photo by Anna J. Park
He also highlighted France’s commitment to feminist diplomacy over the past decade. “Solidarity with women and girls lies at the heart of our diplomacy,” he said, stressing that equality “cannot simply remain a slogan.”
Yaël Braun-Pivet, the first woman to serve as president of France’s National Assembly, joined the forum via video message and underscored the importance of sustained efforts toward gender equality.
“As the first woman to hold this position and as a mother of five, I understand the responsibility that comes with it,” she said. “I will make sure the door that had been closed for centuries is never shut again.”
Former French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin also delivered remarks by video, warning against complacency in addressing gender inequality.
“At the current pace, it could take another 79 years to close the gender pay gap,” Pellerin said. “We cannot be satisfied with that.”
Participants and faculty members of Ewha Womans University pose for a group photo during the Women, Forces of the Future, 140 Years of Korea-France Dialogue forum at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, May 18. Korea Times photo by Anna J. Park
During a session titled “Women Transforming Leadership and the Future,” Megan Myungwon Lee, CEO of Panasonic North America, shared her leadership philosophy.
“I built trust by delivering results,” Lee said, adding that she pursued authenticity over conventional models of charismatic leadership and sought “never to become a victim or see myself as weak.”
The forum continued through the evening with discussions exploring women’s roles in culture, creativity, science and the future of knowledge. Guests included Nobel Prize-winning author Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio and Gaële de Medeiros, director of international partnerships at Centre Pompidou, who participated in a session on women shaping culture and imagination.
Another session on women and the future of science and knowledge featured Pascale Senellart, professor at Paris-Saclay University, and Alexxina Ollier, a Center for Quantum Nanoscience postdoctoral fellow.