Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In Chon (center to right) on May 20 speaks to his French counterpart Rachida Dati ahead of their signing of a letter of intent on cultural cooperation to mark the 140th anniversary of bilateral ties at the French Ministry of Culture in Paris. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
By Charles Audouin
Expanded exchanges with France will mark the 140th anniversary of bilateral relations next year.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Seoul said Minister Yu In Chon and French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati on May 20 signed a letter of intent on bilateral cultural cooperation at the French Ministry of Culture in Paris.
Under the agreement, both sides will raise cooperation between institutions for culture, arts and national heritage, promote joint projects in the production, performance, exhibition and promotion of culture and arts activities as well as cinema and games. They will also collaborate in cultural, intangible and natural heritage.
The two countries will also host events to mark the 140th anniversary of bilateral relations, which falls on June 4 next year. In addition, Korea will be the guest of honor at the Paris Book Fair and the French arts event Avignon Festival will hold a "Korea Focus" event.
Korean culture festivals are also slated in major French cities such as Tours, Nantes, Montpellier and Toulouse.
In 1965, Seoul and Paris signed a bilateral agreement on culture, technology and science. They also exchanged from 2015-16 commemorative years to mark mutual exchanges on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
"Korean pop culture and arts are extremely popular in France, so there are many areas of cooperation," Minister Yu said. "We will push for many cultural exchange events that the people of both countries can experience on the occasion of the letter of intent on cultural cooperation."
Choi Jung-wha, president of the Corea (Korea) Image and Communication Institute and professor emeritus of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, on May 15 receives the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor from French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Berthoud at the latter's official residence in Seoul's Seodaemun-gu District. (French Embassy in Korea)
Bilateral cooperation in culture and arts is also expanding through human exchanges and awards for figures in culture and arts. Two Koreans have recently earned high French honors to symbolize stronger and consistent ties.
Choi Jung-wha, president of the Corea (Korea) Image Communication Institute and professor emeritus at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, on May 15 became the first Korean woman to receive the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor, France's highest government honor.
The French Embassy in Seoul cited her contributions to the promotion of bilateral relations and cultural exchange through the publishing of 38 books in Korean and French, working as a YouTube creator and serving as the editor-in-chief of the French-language edition of Koreana, a magazine published by the Korea Foundation.
Korean and French media on May 22 also reported that acclaimed soprano Sumi Jo received the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters from the French Ministry of Culture.
Presenting the honor to Jo will be former French Minister of Culture and Communications Fleur Pellerin, an ethnic Korean who was adopted by a French couple, at a ceremony on May 26 at the theater Opera Comique in Paris.
caudouin@korea.kr
