A part of France in Korea
- 8 years ago
The two nation's strong relationship built on more than a century of diplomatic ties is evident throughout the streets of Seoul.
No where is it more clearly visible than one neighborhood popular for its cafes and restaurants.
Lee Ji-won takes us to the "little France" of Korea.
Korea and France have shared many economic and cultural exchanges over the past 130 years.
Business people and expatriates have been welcomed in both countries... and today, more than 4-thousand French people live in Korea.
"And as more French people came to live in Korea, they formed their own community. There's even a French village in a plush residential area of southern Seoul, called Seorae Village."
About 300 French nationals live in Seorae Village, also known as 'Little France in Seoul', an area filled with various French institutes and stores. Even the road signs are written in French.
One of the main reasons French people gather in the village is because the French School of Seoul is located here. Since the school moved from Itaewon in 1985, more French families have settled in this neighborhood. With about 450 students from kindergarteners to highschoolers, the school uses a French curriculum to help students adapt to any French school in the world. But there's one special requirement in the curriculum.
"The strong requirements of our network is to make sure we integrate the local culture and language in our curriculum. For instance, they study the Korean holiday of 'Chuseok,' various traditions of Korea, and from the age of 8, they study the Korean language."
And to assist foreigners living in Korea, Global Learning Centers were established in 2008. The centers are open to all, but the programs and staff at this center in Seorae Village are mainly French.
"We help them with whatever small or big questions they have on living in Korea. As centers need to reflect the foreign population in the area... all of our staff speak French and we hold more programs regarding the Fre
No where is it more clearly visible than one neighborhood popular for its cafes and restaurants.
Lee Ji-won takes us to the "little France" of Korea.
Korea and France have shared many economic and cultural exchanges over the past 130 years.
Business people and expatriates have been welcomed in both countries... and today, more than 4-thousand French people live in Korea.
"And as more French people came to live in Korea, they formed their own community. There's even a French village in a plush residential area of southern Seoul, called Seorae Village."
About 300 French nationals live in Seorae Village, also known as 'Little France in Seoul', an area filled with various French institutes and stores. Even the road signs are written in French.
One of the main reasons French people gather in the village is because the French School of Seoul is located here. Since the school moved from Itaewon in 1985, more French families have settled in this neighborhood. With about 450 students from kindergarteners to highschoolers, the school uses a French curriculum to help students adapt to any French school in the world. But there's one special requirement in the curriculum.
"The strong requirements of our network is to make sure we integrate the local culture and language in our curriculum. For instance, they study the Korean holiday of 'Chuseok,' various traditions of Korea, and from the age of 8, they study the Korean language."
And to assist foreigners living in Korea, Global Learning Centers were established in 2008. The centers are open to all, but the programs and staff at this center in Seorae Village are mainly French.
"We help them with whatever small or big questions they have on living in Korea. As centers need to reflect the foreign population in the area... all of our staff speak French and we hold more programs regarding the Fre