Korea-France cultural exchange expands ahead of 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year
Greater focus on residency programs aimed at collaboration between artists
Ahead of the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations in 2026, the French Embassy in South Korea is offering a wide range of cultural events to deepen the two countries' cultural ties. Spanning literature, music, arts and digital entertainment, each month in 2025 will offer unique opportunities for engagement.
The focus will be on exchanges among artists and creators from both countries, providing a chance to share cultural values and foster the creation of new cultural expressions, Pierre Morcos, counselor for culture, science, and education at the French Embassy in Korea, told reporters during a press conference on Thursday.
This effort is highlighted by residency programs in the webtoon, K-pop, arts and literature fields. The Webtoon Academy Residency Program, running from March to April, will bring three award-winning webtoon artists to Suncheon for a two-month residency, where they will create original works in collaboration with local studios.
On June 1, the Villa Busan program will announce its second cohort of resident artists. Established through a partnership between Busan and Cannes, Villa Busan serves as a space for exchange among visual artists and professionals. Also in June, selected artists will participate in a three-month residency at Hongti Art Center.
From March 24 to 30, the K-pop Atelier will take place at JYP Entertainment Studio, in collaboration with the French National Music Center, JYP Publishing, Amplified and Reway Music & Media. Four French composers will participate in this K-pop songwriting camp, working together to create new K-pop hits.
From March 22 to 26, the third edition of the Goncourt Prize -- Korea program will bring together 161 students learning French from 25 educational institutions across Korea. Jean-Baptiste Andrea, the 2023 Goncourt Prize winner for "Veiller sur elle (Taking Care of Her)," will visit Korea as part of the program.
South Korea is the second most significant country for French literature after China, with more than 500 French books translated each year, according to Morcos.
The French Embassy has also curated cultural events, designating special themes for each month.
February will focus on literature, highlighted by the Night of Reading event on Friday. This event will include French dictation, children's workshops, readings, music performances and film screenings.
March, dedicated to Francophonie, will see Korean-French author Chai Seh-lynn on a literary tour, engaging with audiences on topics such as identity, cultural heritage and storytelling at Alliance Francaise centers and universities in Korea.
Also in March, pianist Olivier de Spiegeleir will tour Incheon, Daejeon, Busan and Hannam University, performing French-language-related piano pieces, accompanied by commentary. Additionally, university students across Korea will participate in the Francomedia Video Contest, crafting humorous short films centered on French language use in daily life.
French Film Week will run April 4-13 and the French National Orchestra's Korean tour will take place April 29 to May 2. The exhibition "Oceania: Art of the Pacific," showcasing over 180 masterpieces of Pacific art from the Musee du quai Branly -- Jacques Chirac, will open at the National Museum of Korea.
In June, the Orchestre de Paris will perform a series of concerts with Korean pianist Lim Yunchan. In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel's birth, the orchestra will present five concerts in Seoul, featuring French musical masterpieces.
French Music Festival, June 1422, meanwhile, will feature over 20 performances across the country.
'In France, there is a strong fascination with all aspects of Korean culture, along with a strong desire for cultural exchange. France is eager to learn about Korea's content creation model and hopes to expand cultural exchanges," Morcos said, adding "The popularity of France in Korea is also evident, making the cultural exchange truly mutual.'
Events for the rest of 2025 will be announced later, according to the embassy.
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