Seoul, Republic of Korea, February 12, 2026 – Choi Jai-chul, Chairman of the Climate Change Center and former Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to France, was conferred the rank of Grand Officer of the French National Order of Merit at a ceremony held at the French Ambassador’s Residence in Seoul. The award recognizes Chairman Choi’s distinguished contributions to Korea–France relations and international climate diplomacy.
H.E. Philippe Bertoux, Ambassador of France to the Republic of Korea, stated that Chairman Choi has played a significant role in strengthening Korean–French relations, particularly advancing climate action-one of France’s main priorities. He described Chairman Choi as a valued ally during the 2015 Paris Agreement negotiation at COP21, where he led the Korean Delegation and contributed to the successful conclusion of the landmark accord. The Ambassador also praised Chairman Choi’s remarkable work with the Climate Change Center.
Chairman Choi previously served as Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to France and as Chairman of the Executive Committee and President of the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), headquartered in Paris. He is widely recognized for his expertise in Francophone diplomacy and climate and environmental affairs.
Upon receiving the decoration, Chairman Choi stated:
“As I conclude my public service career, it is a great honor to receive the French National Order of Merit, following the Order of Civil Merit (Hwangjo Geunjeong Medal) awarded by the Government of the Republic of Korea at the end of last year. I will continue my efforts through civil society organizations to help achieve a carbon-neutral and sustainable future.”
The French National Order of Merit consists of five ranks—Chevalier, Officier, Commandeur, Grand Officier, and Grand-Croix—with each level representing a higher distinction.
[Major Career Highlights of Choi Jai-chul]
- Chairman of the Board, Climate Change Center (current)
- Ambassador to France
- Chairman of the Executive Committee and President of the General Assembly,
Bureau International des Expositions (BIE)
- Ambassador for Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea
- Ambassador to Denmark, Morocco, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
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