By Min Yea-Ji and Lee Hana
Photos = Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Mayor of Montpellier Philippe Saurel, who has been actively promoting Korea in his city through an annual festival Coree d'ici, will receive the Order of Cultural Merit, Hwagwan (fifth class) medal in 2018 for his services in arts and culture.

The festival, the title of which means "Korea is here," was created by Korean modern dancer Nam Young-ho in Nov. 2015 during the "Year of Korea-France Bilateral Exchanges" that celebrated 130 years of diplomatic ties between the two sides. Nam met with officials at the city of Montpellier with her ideas for a Korean cultural festival, launching the annual event.

Mayor Saurel led negotiations with the city council and offered administrative and financial support to bring the festival to life.

As a result, Coree d'ici has become the only Korean cultural festival to take root in the south of France. Last year, the festival attracted more than 4,000 visitors to programs featuring modern dance, traditional music, exhibits, films, and Korean food.

The Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) took note of Mayor Saurel's contributions and recommended him as a recipient of the Order of Cultural Merit.

"We are pleased to show our gratitude to Mayor Saurel for his work in promoting Korean culture in France, a country that has a rich cultural heritage. I hope that this honor will serve to further cultural exchanges between our two countries," said KOCIS Director Kim Tae-hoon.

Mayor Saurel will receive his Order of Cultural Merit in France during the Coree d'ici festival period.



jesimin@korea.kr