French people in Korea

There is a community of French people in Korea.

French people began coming to Korea as early as the seventeenth century, when French Catholic missionaries first came to the country.^[2] However, most missionaries came after the 1886 establishment of relations between France and the Joseon dynasty; the treaty signed between the two countries gave French missionaries the right to evangelise in Korea.^[3][4]

There were an estimated 5,343 French nationals in South Korea as of 2016^[update].^[5] Most are employed by French multinationals operating in the country. The largest concentration can be found in the Seorae Village in Seoul's Seocho-gu district, which because of its location on a hill is often compared to Montmartre in Paris. Korea's only school using French as the medium of instruction moved there in 1984.^[6] Most French children only attend elementary or middle school in Seoul, but then return to France afterwards.^[7]

In September 2009, the Seoul metropolitan government announced a five billion-won plan to renovate the area and make it more attractive to foreign residents by widening pedestrian walkways and putting up more signs in French.^[7] One portion of the pavement, starting from the entrance to Bangbae Middle School, is painted in red, white and blue, the colours of the flag of France.^[8]

• Julien Kang, South Korean actor
• Siméon-François Berneux, Catholic missionary
• Victor Collin de Plancy, French diplomat
• Ida Daussy, TV celebrity
• Fabien Yves Jerome Corbineau, model and TV celebrity
• Robin Deiana, model and TV celebrity

• Koreans in France
• French campaign against Korea

• Alliance Française Séoul
• French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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