| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 5,343 (2015) [1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Seoul | |
| Languages | |
| French, Korean | |
| Religion | |
| Catholicism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| French people |
There is a small 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]
Daegu, formerly spelled Taegu and officially known as the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea.
Between 1910 and 1945, Korea was part of the Empire of Japan following an annexation. Joseon Korea had come into the Japanese sphere of influence with the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876, and a complex coalition of the Meiji government, military, and business officials began a process of integrating the Korean peninsula's politics and economy with Japan. The Korean Empire became a protectorate of Japan with the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905; thereafter Japan ruled the country indirectly through the Japanese Resident-General of Korea. Japan formally annexed Korea in 1910 in the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910, without the consent of the former Korean Emperor Gojong, the regent of the Emperor Sunjong. Korea under Japanese rule was administered by the Governor-General of Korea based in Keijō (Seoul).
The practice of Christianity in Korea revolves around two of its largest branches, Protestantism and Catholicism, accounting for 8.6 million and 5.3 million members, respectively. Catholicism was first introduced during the late Joseon Dynasty period by Confucian scholars who encountered it in China. In 1603, Yi Gwang-jeong, a Korean diplomat, returned from Beijing carrying several theological books written by Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit missionary to China. He began disseminating the information in the books, and the first seeds of Christianity were sown. In 1758, King Yeongjo of Joseon officially outlawed Catholicism as an "evil practice." Catholicism was reintroduced in 1785 by Yi Seung-hun and since then French and Chinese Catholic priests were invited by the Korean Christians.
Suwon is the capital and largest city of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea's most populous province which surrounds Seoul, the national capital. Suwon lies about 30 km (19 mi) south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety". With a population close to 1.3 million, it is larger than Ulsan, although it is not governed as a metropolitan city.
The Anglican Church of Korea is the province of the Anglican Communion in North and South Korea. Founded in 1889, it has over 120 parish and mission churches with a total membership of roughly 65,000 people.
Yongsan District is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea.
Bundang-gu is the largest and most populous district (gu) of Seongnam, a major city in the Seoul Capital Area, South Korea. Bundang-gu is one of South Korea's wealthiest and highest developed areas, being the nation's first and largest completely artificial city built in the early 1990s. Many high-rise luxury condos moved in the early 2000s, with a second planned city built in the late 2000s called Pangyo in the same district. Apartment prices are the second highest in Gyeonggi-do after Gwacheon and 10th highest nationwide, higher than many central Seoul districts such as Mapo-gu or Jongno-gu. Apartments around Pangyo station and the high-rise luxury condos around Jeongja station and Sunae station rival prices in the most expensive areas in the country. Unlike older cities such as Seoul, Bundang has no telephone poles overground, resulting in a clean cityscape with well-designed streets.
Kim Tae-hee is a South Korean actress. Considered one of South Korea's most beautiful women, she is best known for her roles in Korean dramas such as Stairway to Heaven (2003), Love Story in Harvard (2004), Iris (2009), My Princess (2011), Yong-pal (2015) and Hi Bye, Mama! (2020). Kim Tae-hee is referred to as one of "The Troika" along with Song Hye-kyo and Jun Ji-hyun, collectively known by the acronym "Tae-Hye-Ji".
Apgujeong-dong is a ward of Gangnam-gu in Seoul, South Korea. It is considered as one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in South Korea. It was reported that housing price of Apgujeong-dong is approximately US$28,300 per one square meter by Korea Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2019. The dong originates from a pavilion with the same name founded by Han Myung-hoi, a high-ranking government official during the Joseon dynasty. It is an upmarket residential, fashion, shopping, and educational area. The Hanja name translates into "Seagull Pavilion," a reference to his nickname, which itself was a reference and a mark of peace when viewing a group of seagulls flying.
The Cathedral Church of Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception, informally known as Myeongdong Cathedral, is the national cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul. Located in the Myeongdong neighborhood of Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Seoul Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, the highest Roman Catholic prelate of the nation.
Seocho District (Korean: 서초구) is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Seocho is generally referred to as a part of Greater Gangnam Area, along with Gangnam District and Songpa District. As of 2019, Seocho District ranks as the second richest neighborhood in South Korea and among the most expensive areas in Seoul with an average sales price of 47.75 million South Korean won per 3.3 square meters. South Korea's rich are concentrated in the three Gangnam districts including Seocho, known as Gangnam-sam-gu.
Seorae Village, sometimes nicknamed "Montmartre", or the french village, due to its hilltop location, is a small, affluent French enclave in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is home to about 560 French people, roughly 40% of the French community in South Korea. Most of them are employees of French corporations doing business in the country. The majority (370) of the French population is actually children.
Koreans in Africa form a very small population, estimated at only 9,200 people in 2005, with almost half of these living in South Africa. South Korean nationals can be found in 49 countries of Africa, including the continent and its surrounding islands; they have established schools in 19 of those countries. They form a small part of the Korean diaspora.
Lee Hanee, also known as Honey Lee, is a South Korean actress, model, classical musician and beauty pageant titleholder. She represented her country at the global Miss Universe 2007, and won 3rd runner-up. She has acted in several films and television series.
Koreans in France numbered 29,367 individuals as of 2014, making them the 3rd-largest Korean diaspora community in Western Europe, according to South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Banpo-dong is a dong, neighborhood of Seocho-gu in Seoul, South Korea. Banpo-dong is divided into five different dong which are Banpobon-dong, Banpo 1-dong, 2-dong, 3-dong and 4-dong.
Hannam-dong is a dong, neighbourhood of Yongsan-gu in Seoul, South Korea.
Kim Swoo Geun was a prominent South Korean architect, educator, publisher and patron of artists. Along with architect Kim Joong Up (김중업), he is recognised as a significant contributor in the history of Korean architecture. With his support for diverse art genres of Korean culture, he was referred to as Lorenzo de Medici of Seoul by TIME in 1977.
Jeong-dong is a legal dong, or neighbourhood of the Jung-gu district in Seoul, South Korea and governed by its administrative dong, Sogong-dong.
The French School of Seoul is a French international school in Seorae Village, a community in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It includes kindergarten through secondary school education, which includes high school.
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| South Korea | ||
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| Africa |
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| Asia | ||
| Middle East |
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| North America | ||
| Oceania | ||
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