History of French-Korean relations - a promise of even stronger ties.

Although the beginning of France and Korea’s shared history in 1866 was turbulent, it only got better over time. From pioneering economic cooperation to deepening relations, South Korea and France have an interest in future cooperation based on a rich history. Based on this history, how are Korea and France partners set to collaborate more and more in the future?

Before the Korean War :

To start at the very beginning, in 1866, French troops tried to establish relations with Korea. Several French Catholic missionaries settled in Korea, and many of them were executed following a Korean movement that wanted to eradicate Catholicism from the country. After their murder, the French navy undertook an expedition to the Korean coast in an attempt to open Korea to diplomatic relations and trade. However, this failed and the French expedition was unsuccessful. This illustrates Korea’s isolationism at that time and its struggle to defend itself against foreign invaders, especially European powers. Nevertheless, Korea was forcibly opened by Japan in 1876, leading to the establishment of diplomatic and commercial relations with many Western countries. Treaties had been signed with Great Britain, Germany and the USA in 1882, with Russia and Italy in 1884 and with France, Austria, Belgium in 1886.

After these treaties, which were more or less imposed on Korea, more peaceful treaties were signed between France and Korea, which formed the starting point for positive relations between the two countries. Also in 1886, the Treaty of Good Relations, Trade and Navigation was concluded, the first bilateral agreement between the two countries. From 1886 and later, Korea and France maintained positive relations. In the XVIIIs and then in the early XXs, when Korea was under Japanese domination, relations were also limited. However, during the Korean War, South Korea was supported by France, which sent medical aid and soldiers through the UN Intervention Force.

60s-70s :

Later, as South Korea began to rebuild and develop its industry after the Korean War, France and Korea developed economic exchanges. In 1961, a bilateral economic agreement was signed between the two countries, which contributed to the development of this nascent economic cooperation. During this period, Korea's gross national product multiplied fivefold, and the Korean government continued to expand its cooperation with large corporations in the fields of infrastructure, transportation, ship maintenance, etc. The partnership with French companies developed very well and led to the establishment of the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce in 1986, enabling deeper cooperation. However, the industrial sectors were dominated by European countries at the time (heavy industry, technology). In addition, South Korean industry was the target of the EU’s trade defense measures (anti-dumping).

90s :

In the 1990s, however, South Korea began to become a cooperation partner for the European Union. As South Korea began its path to democracy, it became a country that developed economically and also shared values with the European Union. Consequently, an EU concept paper was published in 1993, naming Korea as the first Asian country with which economic exchange was sought. This was before the New Asian Strategy was published in 1994, a strategy that focused on partnerships with Asian countries. This shows how important South Korea is from the European Union's point of view. Moreover, since its democratization, South Korea became a like-minded partner with whom exchanges were essential.

At the same time, South Korea wanted to strengthen its regional and global influence through soft and hard power. From this perspective, it was only natural for France and Korea to focus on cultural exchanges. French culture saw its popularity increase in Korea, and Korean culture began to develop in France in the 1990s and early 2000s. Since then, cooperation between France and Korea has continued to develop in the direction of cultural exchanges, with a focus on luxury companies. In 2022, the French companies Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Chanel’s combined sells reached the record high of 3 trillion won. Those numbers show how Korea has a genuine interest in luxury, fashion and beauty, and how partnerships between French companies and the South Korean fashion industry are continuously developed.

Furthermore, it's essential to take into account South Korea's entertainment industry, which forms numerous collaborations with high-end brands, thus enhancing its image with an aura of prestige and luxury. Korean entertainment powerhouses, such as SM Entertainment and HYBE, frequently dispatch their artists to fashion shows and establish partnerships with French fashion houses to feature endorsements in their media. These are of course the biggest brands, Louis Vuitton, Givenchi, Yves Saint Laurent, in addition to lesser-known labels like Vetements, which may not be as familiar in France but are highly popular within the Korean entertainment sphere. Koreans have long held a reputation for their discerning taste in product selection, consistently prioritizing quality and craftsmanship over price. This discernment aligns perfectly with the offerings of luxury brands, thereby securing a steadfast market for such brands in South Korea.

Conversely, Koreans working in the entertainment industry, actors, singers and models, are being courted by French companies to shine internationally. In early March, at Paris Fashion Week 2024, singer Mingyu from the group Seventeen attended the Dior event, while Jennie from Blackpink was seen at the Chanel show and Felix from the group Stray Kids walked the runway for Louis Vuitton. Actor Ahn Hyo-seop attended the Lacoste event and model Yu Ha Min was seen at the Yves Saint Laurent show. These stars represent just a fraction of the South Korean celebrities who made appearances at the Paris Fashion Week.

Even summarized, the history of French-Korean relations, it is clear that they have a very deep history that will continue to develop over time. This history shows that even though the two countries are far apart, the physical divide can easily be bridged through shared values and interests. Also, not only as economic partners but also as like-minded partners who share values and principles, Korea and France have a firm path of cooperation ahead. If South Korean and French companies work together, they will undoubtedly benefit and increase their mutual profits.

Elma DUVAL, Associate - Paris Korean Club