French Embassy enlists Felix, Jun Ji-hyun to mark 140 years of ties with Korea with celebrations
2026.03.05 15:49
Felix of K-pop boy band Stray Kids and actor Jun Ji-hyun were named as honorary representatives of the French Embassy in Korea as the mission celebrates 140 years of diplomatic relations with Seoul, the embassy announced Thursday.
A ten-month plan featuring multifaceted cultural events to mark the diplomatic milestone was revealed in a press conference hosted by Ambassador Philippe Bertoux at the French Embassy in western Seoul. The two nations established bilateral ties in 1886.
“France will continue to cooperate with Korea in the fields of politics, security, economy, education and people-to-people exchanges to bolster bilateral ties in all aspects,” Bertoux said. “[The French Embassy] will drive the force to leave giant footsteps together with Korea.”
This year’s programs center on the theme “creativity, opportunity and solidarity,” which embodies the embassy’s aspiration to pursue cultural innovation through Korean and French talent and to join hands to tackle pressing social issues. The embassy's upcoming program ranges from musical performances, showcases of French movies, dramas and digital artworks, academic conferences and networking events. The two honorary ambassadors, Felix and Jun, were selected as key icons representing "a cultural dynamic."
The highlight of the cultural activities will be a celebration at Deoksu Palace in central Seoul on June 4, the exact day when the two nations signed the first bilateral treaty 140 years ago. Soprano Sumi Jo — the only Korean woman to receive France’s Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters — will perform.
The Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul, set to open in early June, will showcase modern and contemporary works from the Centre Pompidou's permanent collection in Paris, which is closed for renovations through 2030.
The embassy will also serve as a venue for art exhibitions, transforming into a "cultural space" connecting Koreans to French culture.
In April, a collection owned by Philippe Tirault, featuring modern and contemporary works by Korean artists such as Park Seo-bo, will be put on public display at the ambassador’s residence within the embassy compound.
From August to September, the embassy will bring artworks by Jean-Michel Othoniel to the ambassador’s residence for a public exhibition, as a sideline event of the international art fair Frieze Seoul. The embassy plans to introduce a reservation system to manage visitor attendance for the exhibitions.
Beyond art and music, an informational career forum, co-organized by the French Embassy and the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will help Korean job seekers navigate the employment landscape and find opportunities in France.
In mid-October, the embassy will host a family-friendly marathon in a park in Seoul to embody the “friendship” between the two countries.
In addition, the embassy will promote better female representation in the esports industry by hosting a “Women in Esports” event in coordination with Esports company Gen.G Esports in November.
Throughout the year-long celebrations, honorary ambassadors Jun and Felix are expected to attend several major events.
The yearly celebration will officially kick off this Saturday with a musical ensemble by Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, French conductor Adrien Perruchon and French pianist Arielle Beck.
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