By Jung Joo-ri and Lee Jihae

Choe Jun-ho, a professor of drama at Korea National University of Arts, is set to receive the French government's highest honor.

The university announced on Feb. 3 that Choe is slated to receive the Knight of the Legion of Honor on Feb. 4 at the French Embassy in Seoul for his contributions to bilateral cultural exchange.

The award recognizes leading figures with notable accomplishments in a variety of fields such as politics, economy and culture.

Choe has received accolades from France before, earning the Knight of the Order of Academic Palms in 2005 and the Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2007. He is the first Korean performing arts presenter to receive the Knight of the Legion of Honor.

Choe has staged and presented French works at leading Korean theaters such as the National Theater of Korea and Seoul Arts Center, as well as in events such as the Seoul Performing Arts Festival and the Chuncheon International Mime Festival. He has also presented Korean performing arts in theater festivals in France, including the Festival of Avignon, and led co-productions between Korea and France.

In 2006, the professor was the director of a joint cultural arts program to commemorate the 120th anniversary of bilateral ties. From 2015-16, he was the art director for the "Year of Korea-France Exchange" to mark the 130th anniversary of Korean-French relations. Over this ten-year period, he directed and oversaw 240 artworks and more than 400 events in both countries.

The embassy said Choe received the honor for his work as art director for the "years of Korean-French cultural exchange" from 2015-16.

"(The professor) has displayed various cultural artworks of both countries for the success of the years of cultural exchange between France and Korea, and has contributed to bilateral cooperation," it added.

etoilejr@korea.kr