Fleur Pellerin (; née Kim Jong-suk, born 29 August 1973) is a French businesswoman, former civil servant and Socialist Party politician who served as a French government minister from 2012 to 2016.
Early life Pellerin was born in 1973 in Seoul, South Korea, where she was abandoned on the streets aged only three or four days old before being rescued by an orphanage; six months later she was adopted by a French family. According to her adoption records, she was called Kim Jong-suk (), although it is unclear how she came by that name. Raised by middle-class parents, her father is a small-business owner, and she grew up in two Paris suburbs, Montreuil and Versailles.Eric Pfanner and David Jolly (January 16, 2013), Pushing France Onto the Digital Stage International Herald Tribune.
Early career Pellerin graduated from ESSEC business school (Master's degree in management) while she was just 21. She then graduated from Sciences Po (MPA) before attending the École nationale d'administration (ENA). She joined the French Court of Auditors where she rose to become a high-ranking civil servant. From 2010 to 2012, Pellerin served as president of the 21st Century Club, a French group that promotes diversity in employment.Eric Pfanner and David Jolly (January 16, 2013), Pushing France Onto the Digital Stage International Herald Tribune.
Political career Pellerin took charge of society and digital economy issues for Socialist Party candidate François Hollande in his successful 2012 French presidential election campaign.Agence-France Presse/Jiji Press, "Pellerin stirs Korean hearts", Japan Times, 20 May 2012, p. 3
After Hollande's election, Pellerin was appointed as with responsibility for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Innovation and the Digital Economy. In July 2012, she publicly announced her opposition to the sale of massive surveillance technologies causing quite a stir in French political circles since France is one of the biggest sellers of such technology.Adam Sandle, Fleur Pellerin: "I am opposed to France selling massive surveillance technologies" , Groundreport, 25 July 2012 In November 2013, she implemented the creation of the French Tech label.La France consacre 215 millions d'euros à soutenir ses start-up, Le Figaro, 28 November 2013
On 11 February 2014, Pellerin was among the guests invited to the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama in honor of Hollande at the White House.Expected Attendees at Tonight's State Dinner Office of the First Lady of the United States, press release of 11 February 2014.
Minister of Culture and Communications, 2014–2016 In August 2014, Pellerin was appointed Minister of Culture as part of the first government of Prime Minister Manuel Valls. Shortly after Pellerin was appointed Minister of Culture, the French magazine L'Express reported that she vacationed at the Corsican villa owned by film producer Pascal Breton, raising ethics questions.Doreen Carvajal (September 12, 2014), Europeans Bracing for Netflix New York Times.
In March 2015, Pellerin nominated Serge Lasvignes to head the Centre Pompidou, in a surprise choice to replace Alain Seban.Doreen Carvajal (March 3, 2015), New Leader Nominated for Pompidou Center in Paris New York Times. Under her leadership, the French Culture Ministry made a bid in September 2015 to purchase one of a highly coveted pair of Rembrandt portraits from Éric de Rothschild for the Louvre in Paris, offering €80 million.Nina Siegal (September 25, 2015), France Makes Bid to Buy Rembrandt Portrait New York Times.
As part of a major government reshuffle in early 2016, Pellerin was sacked and replaced by Audrey Azoulay, who at the time served as Hollande's cultural advisor.Jean-Christophe Castelain (February 12, 2016), Audrey Azoulay replaces Fleur Pellerin as France's culture minister The Art Newspaper.
Business career In August 2016, Pellerin resigned from the French Civil Service to begin a new career in the private sector.L'ex-ministre Fleur Pellerin démissionne de la fonction publique et part dans le privé, Marianne, 21 August 2016 She then became the head of Korelya Capital, an investment fund aimed at emerging technologiesFleur Pellerin lève 100 millions d'euros pour son fonds d'investissement, Europe 1, 29 september 2016 which benefited from a 100-million euros funding by the South Korean Naver Corporation.Fleur Pellerin lève 100 millions d'euros pour faire grandir les start-up françaises, Le Figaro, 29 September 2016 She also holds several other positions, including the following:
Börse Stuttgart, Member of the Advisory Board (since 2025)Boerse Stuttgart Group establishes new Advisory Council: High caliber international senior leaders underline the Group's ambitions Börse Stuttgart, press release of 16 December 2025. Stanhope Capital Group, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2021)Fleur Pellerin Stanhope Capital Group. Reworld Media, Independent Member of the Board of Directors (since 2019)Reworld Media strengthens its Board with the appointment of two new members Reworld Media, press release of October 16, 2019. KLM, Member of the Board of Directors (2018–2026)KLM Shareholders (re)appoint members to the Supervisory Board and the Board of Managing Directors KLM, press release of 26 April 2018. Schneider Electric, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2018)Board of Directors Schneider Electric. Talan, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2018)Fleur Pellerin joins Talan Talan. KissKissBankBank, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2016)Guillaume Bregeras (8 December 2016), Fleur Pellerin rejoint le conseil d'administration de KissKissBankBank Les Echos. Devialet, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2016)Grégoire Pinson and Capucine Cousin (28 November 2016), Fleur Pellerin entre au conseil d'administration de Devialet Challenges.
In August 2018, Pellerin was listed by UK-based company Richtopia at number 2 in the list of 100 Most Influential French Entrepreneurs.
Other activities Eurockéennes, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2018)Eurockéennes : plus haut, plus fort, 135.000 festivaliers nouveau record de fréquentation France 3 Bourgogne, 8 July 2018. Canneseries, President (since 2017)Fleur Pellerin, présidente du futur Festival des Séries de Cannes Le Point, 8 March 2017. Louvre Endowment Fund, Member of the Board of DirectorsBoard of Directors Louvre Endowment Fund. Institut Montaigne, Member of the Board of DirectorsBoard of Directors Institut Montaigne.
Personal life Pellerin is married to Laurent Olléon, also an ENA graduate, who works for the Council of State providing legal advice to the French government.
See also Adoption in France Korean adoptee
References
External links
www.culturecommunication.gouv.fr