Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee will be honored with the prestigious Legion d'honneur medal by the French government for his distinguished services in improving bilateral economic cooperation between France and South Korea.

The medal is given to those deemed to have significantly contributed to the progress of France.

French Ambassador to Seoul Francois Descouyete will award the medal to Lee on Tuesday.

Past recipients of the medal include former Minister of Information and Communication Bae Soon-hun, conductor Chung Myung-hoon and the late Hanjin Group Chairman, Cho Jung-hoon.