By Charles Audouin
Video = Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hold performances and exhibitions across France for six months to showcase Korea's diverse culture and arts ahead of this year's Paris Summer Olympics.

The ministry on May 2 announced its launch of the 2024 Korea Season in Paris, Avignon, Oriac, Nantes and other French cities before the Olympics begins on July 26.

The season will feature 34 programs including performing arts, exhibitions, crafts, tourism and content participated in or presented by 17 Korean culture and arts organizations including the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, Korean Cultural Center in Paris, National Arts Center and Korea Tourism Organization.

The event kicks off on May 2 with "Urban Pulse Uprising," a joint Korean-French breaking (breakdance) performance at the prestigious Theatre de la Chatelet in Paris. Led by choreographer Lia Kim, the Korean dance group 1MILLION will perform with France's Pockemon Crew in a battle-style format to mark the inclusion of breaking as an official Olympic sport.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In Chon will visit Paris to mark the opening of the Korea Season and watch a joint performance with former French Minister of Culture Jack Lang and other key French figures.

The six-month season will also see performances of traditional Korean world music, orchestra show by developmentally disabled musicians, ceramic and media art exhibitions, and Korean content fairs throughout France.

The list of programs is on the event's official website (https://koreaseason.co.kr/eng/).

Minister Yu said, "I hope athletes and tourists from all over the world visiting France get to see and experience Korea's diverse culture and arts."

The visual poster for the 2024 Korea Season is on the left, next to the official poster for the season's opening performance "Urban Pulse Uprising." (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

caudouin@korea.kr