Korea has obtained observer status at the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF), an international body that represents 274 million people whose first or customary language is French.

The decision was made unanimously at the 16th OIF summit in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on Nov. 26. Korea has now become the first Northeast Asian state to earn such a title.



Quoting Alice Parizeau, a Polish-Canadian writer, Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning Choi Yanghee said, “Ties formed with a common language are stronger than blood. As an observer, Korea will deepen the reciprocal and win-win partnerships that we’ve made with the OIF, and will become a trustworthy partner who marches together toward a thriving, peaceful world.” The minister added that, “Just as the old Malagasy saying goes, ‘We all paint a single big picture together under the same sky,’ so, too, the OIF is a very big picture that we paint together.”

The OIF was established in 1970 with the goal of establishing democracy and a nation of laws, and improving human rights in French-speaking countries around the world. The body also allowed its members to engage in dialogue and to develop their economies.

The OIF currently comprises of 54 member governments and three associate members. There are 14 countries from Europe, six from the Americas, four from Asia and 30 from Africa, as well as 24 observers, including the Korean government. Since its establishment, the organization has carried out a diverse range of missions, such as the promotion of the French language and cultural and linguistic diversity, support for education, training programs, research into the language, cooperation on sustainable development and encouragement of economic development among French-speaking nations.

By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo: Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning
jiae5853@korea.kr