| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 11,346 (2024) [1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Seoul | |
| Languages | |
| French, Korean | |
| Religion | |
| Catholicism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| French people |
There is a 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 Daegu Metropolitan City (대구광역시), is a city in southeastern South Korea.
The practice of Christianity in Korea is marginal in North Korea, but significant in South Korea, where it revolves around Protestantism and Catholicism, accounting for 8.6 million and 5.8 million members, respectively. Christianity in the form of Catholicism was first introduced during the late Joseon Dynasty period by Confucian scholars who encountered it in China. In 1603, Yi Su-gwang, a Korean politician, 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, introducing Christianity to Korea. In 1787, King Jeongjo of Joseon officially outlawed Catholicism as an "evil practice," declaring it heretical and strictly banned. Catholicism was reintroduced in 1785 by Yi Seung-hun and French and Chinese Catholic priests were soon invited by the Korean Christians.
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.
Yonsei University is a private Christian research university located in Seoul, South Korea. Yonsei is one of the prestigious group of three universities in the nation referred to as SKY universities.
Yongsan District is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea.
Sogang University is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea. It was established in 1960 by Fr. Theodore Geppert, SJ with the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus with the school being the oldest Jesuit institution of higher education in the country.
Kim Tae-hee is a South Korean actress. Considered one of South Korea's most beautiful actresses, she is best known for her roles in television series such as Stairway to Heaven (2003–2004), Love Story in Harvard (2004–2005), Iris (2009), My Princess (2011), Yong-pal (2015) and Hi Bye, Mama! (2020).
The Cathedral Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, informally known as Myeongdong Cathedral (명동대성당), is the national cathedral of the Archdiocese of Seoul. Located in the Myeongdong neighbourhood of Jung District, Seoul, South Korea, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Seoul, Peter Chung Soon-taick.
Seocho District is one of the 25 local government districts which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Seocho is a part of the Gangnam region, along with the Gangnam district of Seoul. Seocho District ranks as one of the richest neighborhoods 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. Many of the wealthiest residents are concentrated in the three Gangnam districts including Seocho, known as Gangnam School District Eight.
Seorae Village (Korean: 서래마을), sometimes nicknamed "Montmartre", due to its hilltop location, or sometimes "French Village", is a small, affluent French ethnic enclave in Banpo-dong & Bangbae-dong, Seocho District, 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 are children.
Jung District is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea.
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.
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 (Korean: 반포동) is a dong (neighborhood) of Seocho District, 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 (Korean: 한남동) is a wealthy dong (neighborhood)of Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea. It has been portrayed continuously in South Korea's popular culture as an oasis of wealth and luxury, thus becoming the subject of numerous domestic films, television series, and popular music references.
Kim Swoo Geun was a prominent South Korean architect, educator, publisher and patron of artists. Along with architect Kim Chung-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.
France–South Korea relations have spanned over a period from the 19th century to the present. In 2016, France and Korea celebrated the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the countries.
Korean Brazilians are Brazilians of full, partial or predominantly Korean ancestry or a Korean-born person residing in Brazil. The Korean population in Brazil, the largest in Latin America, is about 50,000.
Most South Koreans have no religion. Buddhism and Christianity are the dominant confessions among those who affiliate with a formal religion.
The French School of Seoul is a French international school in Seorae Village, a community in Banpo-dong, Seocho District, Seoul, South Korea. It includes kindergarten through secondary school education, which includes high school.
| Pre-Korean division |   | |
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| North Korea | ||
| South Korea | ||
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| Titular nation |
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