French people in Korea

Ethnic group

French people in KoreaTotal population

11,346 (2024)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Seoul
Languages
French, Korean
Religion
Catholicism
Related ethnic groups
French people
Part of a series of articles on the

French people

Native communities

* France
* Italy (Aosta)

Diaspora

Africa

* Algeria
* Madagascar
* Mauritius
* Namibia (Afrikaners)
* Réunion1
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* South Africa (Afrikaners)

Asia

* Hong Kong
* India
* Japan
* Korea
* Pakistan

Middle East

* Israel
* Jews
* Lebanon
* Turkey
* United Arab Emirates

Europe

* United Kingdom (Huguenots)
* Netherlands (Huguenots)
* Germany (pre-1918)
* Hungary
* Spain
* Portugal

North America

* Cuba
* French Antilles1
* Guatemala
* Haiti
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Puerto Rico
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* United States
* French Louisianians
* Cajuns
* Muskrat French
* French Canadians
* Huguenots
* Breton
* Corsican
* Basque
* Canada
* Acadians
* Brayon
* Basque
* Québécois
* Franco-Ontarians
* Franco-Manitoban
* Fransaskois
* Franco-Albertan
* Franco-Columbian
* Franco-Yukonnais
* Franco-Ténois
* Franco-Newfoundlander
* Franco-Nunavois
* Saint Pierre and Miquelon1

South America

* Argentina
* Brazil
* Chile
* Colombia
* Peru
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Oceania

* Australia
* New Caledonia1
* New Zealand

1Overseas parts of France proper
Migration of minorities in France (i.e. Basques) can be considered as separate (ethnically) or French migration (by nationality).

Culture

* Religion
* Literature
* Music
* Cinema
* Architecture
* Sport
* Cuisine
* Dress
* Symbols
* Cultural Heritage sites

History

* History of France
* Napoleonic wars

Language

* French
* Walloon
* Breton
* Romance

Other

* List of French people
* People of French descent
* Basques
* Bretons
* Walloons
* Corsican immigration to Puerto Rico

* v
* t
* e

There is a community of French people in Korea.

## History

[edit]

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]

## Distribution

[edit]

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]

## Notable people

[edit]

* 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

## See also

[edit]

* France portal
* Korea portal

* Koreans in France
* French campaign against Korea

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 2024년 9월 출입국외국인정책 통계월보, South Korea: Ministry of Justice, 2024, retrieved 2024-11-19
2. ^ The Gospel in All Lands, Methodist Episcopal Church Missionary Society, 1890, pp. 413–414
3. ^ Choe, Jong-go (December 2006), "구한말의 주한 프랑스인 사회 - 《뮈텔주교일기》를 중심으로/French Society in the Late Chosŏn Era - based Bishop Mutel's Diary", Journal of the Research Foundation of Korean Church History, 27: 79–117, retrieved 2007-05-31
4. ^ Yi, Jin-gu (December 2006), "조불조약이 초기 개신교의 선교활동에 미친 영향/The Impact of the Korean-French Treaty on Protestantism in the Late 19th Century", Journal of the Research Foundation of Korean Church History, 27, retrieved 2007-05-31
5. ^ "No melting pot, but Seoul still flavored with several dashes of migrant communities", Korea.net, 2006-12-19, retrieved 2007-05-31
6. ^ Lee, Kyung-Taek (2006), "French Village in Banpo-dong", Korean Broadcasting System, retrieved 2007-05-31
7. ^ a b Min, Ines (2009-09-02), "Costly Changes Impress Few Seorae Residents", The Korea Times, retrieved 2009-09-03
8. ^ Lee, Annabelle (2009-12-11), "The world within Seoul", Korea Herald, retrieved 2009-12-11

## External links

[edit]

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

* v
* t
* e

Immigrants and expatriates in Korea

Pre-Korean division|

* Chinese
* ethnic Koreans
* French
* Germans
* Indians
* Russians
* Vietnamese

North Korea|

* Americans
* Japanese
* abductees

South Korea|

* Brazilians
* Filipinos
* Indonesians
* Japanese
* Jews
* Malaysians
* Mongolians
* Nepalis
* Pakistanis
* Refugees
* Jeju Island

See also|

* Ethnic minorities in South Korea
* Ethnic minorities in North Korea
* Immigration to South Korea
* Demographics of North Korea
* Korean diaspora
* Immigration policy of South Korea
* Korean clan names of foreign origin

* v
* t
* e

French diaspora

Africa|

* Algeria
* White Africans of European ancestry
* Mauritius
* Namibia (Afrikaners)
* Réunion1
* Senegal

Asia|

* Hong Kong
* India
* Japan
* Korea
* Pakistan

Middle East|

* Israel
* Lebanon
* Turkey
* United Arab Emirates

Europe|

* Hungary
* Netherlands (Huguenots)
* Poland (Huguenots)
* United Kingdom (Huguenots)

North America|

* Canada
* Acadians
* Brayon
* Basque
* Franco-Albertans
* Franco-Columbian
* Franco-Manitoban
* Franco-Nunavois
* Franco-Ontarian
* Franco-Ténois
* Franco-Newfoundlander
* Franco-Yukonnais
* Fransaskois
* Québécois
* Saint Pierre and Miquelon1
* Cuba
* French Antilles1
* Guatemala
* Haiti
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Puerto Rico
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* United States
* Cajuns
* French Canadians
* Huguenots
* Breton
* Corsican
* Basque

Oceania|

* Australia
* New Caledonia1
* French Polynesia1
* New Zealand

South America|

* Argentina
* Brazil
* Chile
* Colombia
* Peru
* Uruguay

See also|

* Basques
* Bretons
* Walloons
* Corsican immigration to Puerto Rico

1Overseas parts of France proper
Migration of minorities in France (i.e. Basques) can be considered as separate (ethnically) or French migration (by nationality).

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