The official photographer for French President Emmanuel Macron, who concluded a visit to South Korea on April 2-3, shared on social media photographs spotlighting First Lady Kim Hea Kyung's traditional hanbok and accessories. The First Lady has consistently worn traditional hanbok during visiting dignitaries' trips to Korea and on overseas tours, continuing efforts to promote hanbok.

Alexandra Lebon, the official photographer for the French presidential office, posted six behind-the-scenes shots on April 6 on her Instagram taken during President Macron's state visit to Korea. Among them were four images highlighting the hanbok and accessories worn by the First Lady at the state welcome luncheon for President Macron held at Cheong Wa Dae on the 3rd. Also included were images of the traditional honor guard in gilt court attire that welcomed the presidential couple at the ceremony.

Lebon wrote alongside the photos, “State visit to Seoul, Republic of Korea, April 3, 2026.” She also added the hashtags ‘#EmmanuelMacron #BrigitteMacron #CheongWaDae #Korea #StateVisit’. As of 9 a.m. that day, the post had drawn around 1,400 ‘likes’, attracting attention.

Lebon focused in particular on the First Lady's yellow hanbok. Cheong Wa Dae explained that at the state luncheon the First Lady chose a forsythia-yellow hanbok in the hope that President Macron and his wife would long remember Korea's spring and its forsythias. She also wore on her jeogori a norigae, crafted with traditional knotting and set with a spring plum-blossom-shaped metal piece, said to express a wish for a lasting bond with the presidential couple.

Lebon also took close-ups of the First Lady's right hand as she saluted the flag, showing the paired rings she wore and a rear view with a binyeo (hair ornament). Cheong Wa Dae said the paired rings were a plum-blossom-patterned silver double ring by master traditional metal craftsman Park Hae-do, symbolizing ties and cohesion. The First Lady is said to have first encountered the piece on March 13 at the ‘Government Procurement Cultural Products Special Exhibition’ hosted by the Public Procurement Service, and to have worn it at this event to help promote traditional crafts.

A Cheong Wa Dae official said, “At this state luncheon, the First Lady served as an honorary ambassador, promoting the value and beauty of Korea's traditional attire.” On the 2nd, at Cheong Wa Dae, the First Lady also met with the ‘Task Force to List Everyday Hanbok with UNESCO’ and stated she would help raise awareness of hanbok culture.