Joachim Son - Forget , a French National Assemblyman , represents French citizens overseas . ( Corea Image Communications Institute ) 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 14 th 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 . ” “ 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 14 th 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 . By Joel Lee ( joel @ heraldcorp . com ) [ 코리아 헤럴드 ] [ K - POP HERALD ] [ 페이스북 ] <ⓒ KoreaHerald ( www . koreaherald . com ) 무단 전재 및 재 배포 금지 >