Contemporary art & content deepening Korea-France connection ahead of 140-year bilateral milestone

Описание: 프랑스 사회에 정착하는 한국 현대미술과 콘텐츠

Come next year that is 2026 Korea and France celebrate one-hundred-and-40 years of diplomatic relations and in light of this occasion cultural exchanges in the form of exhibitions and screen productions have been garnering quite a bit of public attention.
Our Oh Soo-young files this report from the City of Light.

Capturing color and creative energy through art and motion, Korea-France relations continue to broaden through cultural exchange.
A contemporary art exhibition in Paris is bringing the works of 34 Korean artists an eclectic selection from leading galleries and institutions in both countries.
The theme is “Colors of Korea,” incorporating Obangsaek the traditional five cardinal colors among a variety of iconic color tones.

“This work behind me is by the late artist Kim Tschang-Yeul. He's very well known as the ‘water drop’ artist, but this work was created in the early years of his career, after he had been active in New York and then moved to Paris So through this exhibition, even visitors who are not very familiar with Korean contemporary art come in and take the time to look at the artists’ lives and their artistic practices."

As such, the exhibition aims to build resonance and connection.

“French audiences tend to have a very high level of interest in culture—not only in their own, but other cultures as well. Not only young French people, but also those in their 30s and 40s, and even those in their 50s and older, now have a much higher level of awareness of Korea. As a result, interest in Korean culture has grown even further, and this is not limited to one specific field but appears as a broader, overall trend."

The exhibition is one of several programs run by the Korean Cultural Center in Paris, ahead of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Film screenings and performances organised by the center also offer ways to engage in Korean contemporary culture.
In recent years, Korean cinema and content have gained steady attention from French critics and audiences, with the growth of streaming and online video platforms.
Guillaume Lagorce, who has developed some of France’s largest productions, describes the impact.

“It's completely unique? I mean Parasite, the movie Parasite, something so new.
It was very audacious—the direction, the scenario, the actors were amazing.
And Squid Game is another good example. I could use the same terms for the success of this kind of movie and series.”

Lagorce says the appeal reflects the shared passionate temperament of Koreans and French, and their love for music and drama.

“From my experience we are quite close from France to Korea. I would say that we are French culture is closer to Korea than many other countries even in, even in Asia I used to say that the Korean are like the Latin of Europe."

He is hoping to bring more popular Korean content to the French market, and stage live French performances in Korea.
Lagorce’s revival of the hit musical Le Roi Soleil is completely sold out, with discussions underway about touring in Asia, including Korea.

"Well I'm in discussion now with some producers. We have a partner in Seoul. We did Mozart with him a while ago and we would like to bring Moliere, which was a big success in France and touring now in China of course Le Roi Soleil I mean to establish a bridge and that's also why that's what I was telling you. I'm really thinking that the French market, the European market in general but the French market specifically is really ready to welcome Korean cultural projects."

Such collaborations are to deepen in 2026, as part of a year of bilateral exchange.

Officials say more than 100 events are scheduled to celebrate the 140-year milestone, with exhibitions, films, and live performances taking place across both countries.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News, Paris.

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2025-12-30, 17:00 (KST)