First lady Kim Keon Hee, who is accompanying President Yoon Suk Yeol on his visit to France, on June 20 gives a speech before watching the Busan-themed exhibition "Taste Korea!" at the Korean Cultural Centre in Paris. 

By Park Hye Ri

Photos = Office of the President  

First lady Kim Keon Hee on June 20 attended the Busan-themed exhibition "Taste Korea!" at the Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) in downtown Paris to promote Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. 

Accompanying President Yoon Suk Yeol on his visit to France to attend the general assembly of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE), she invited 14 foreign journalists in the afternoon to promote the diverse charms of Busan, Senior Secretary to the President for Public Relations Kim Eun-hye said in a news release. 

Reporters from countries like France, Austria, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Spain, Chile, Cameroon and Madagascar were invited to the event. 

With the media contingent, the first lady looked around promotional pavilions for Busan and the BIE, Busan-themed media art, the port city's history, and a display of culture and art in showing the city's development from past to present.

"Korea is hot but Busan is even hotter," she said, showing her passion for the city's bid. 

In addition, the KCC building attracted media attention through its videos and promotional banners featuring the image of the keychain for the Busan World Expo, an item whose design and production the first lady had a hand in.  

"Busan is a city of mothers, a city where we all meet our mothers," she said. "This is because Busan is the city where our mothers who fled the Korean War overcame the hardships of war and poverty and did their best for their sons and daughters."

"Mothers and women are at the center of the growth of the Republic of Korea and Busan," she added. "If you come to Busan, you can feel the power of mothers." 

First lady Kim Keon Hee on June 20 talks to foreign journalists at the pop-up Busan Cafe on the third floor of the Korean Cultural Centre in Paris. 

The first lady also visited the pop-up Busan Cafe, which had a replica of Mildawon, a famous teahouse in the port city frequented by artists during the Korean War (1950-53). 

She played the Korean song "Come Back to Busan Harbor" and introduced Korea's instant coffee mix, telling the reporters, "Artists enjoyed this coffee at teahouses back in the day and it's now a drink representative of Korea."

After the exhibition, the first lady presented the attending journalists with keychains printed with the messages "Busan is Ready" and "Hip Korea" as souvenirs.

"I hope you visit Busan, a city with dreams and passion," she added, asking for their interest in Korea's journey to host the expo. 

Since May 30, the KCC in Paris has hosted the event "Taste Korea!" to showcase Korea's food and outstanding content in culture and art. 

For the success of Busan's bid, the KCC this year has hosted Busan-themed cultural events to create an atmosphere of support for the campaign in Paris, where the BIE headquarters is located. 

Through Sept. 16, the KCC will present a non-fungible token exhibition with the collaboration of eight Korean and French artificial intelligence artists, performances by the Busan National Gugak Center and the port city's leading specialties. 

hrhr@korea.kr