France and South Korea are finalizing plans for an extensive year-long celebration in 2026 to commemorate the 140th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, including a potential state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron. The comprehensive program will feature more than 100 events spanning cultural performances, art exhibitions, film festivals, and high-level diplomatic exchanges under the theme "Creativity, Opportunity, Solidarity."
French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux announced the official launch of the anniversary programming during a press conference at the French Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday. "The 140th anniversary is more than a cultural celebration," Ambassador Bertoux told reporters. "It encompasses every dimension of the two countries' relationship -- political, military, economic, scientific and cultural." The celebration will mark 140 years since the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation was signed on June 4, 1886, establishing formal diplomatic ties between the two nations.
A formal anniversary ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 4, 2026, at Deoksugung, a historic Joseon-era royal palace in Seoul. Additional programming details for France-based events will be announced at a Paris press conference in December. Ambassador Bertoux emphasized the historical significance of the relationship, tracing its evolution from Victor Collin de Plancy, France's first envoy to Seoul who promoted Korean culture at the 1900 Paris World's Fair, to the 267 French soldiers who died fighting in the Korean War, and today's advanced collaboration in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and aerospace technology.
The ambassador outlined a "threefold mission" for the anniversary celebrations. "First, to commemorate those who built this partnership. Second, to celebrate -- especially with young people. And third, to forge new plans that elevate our relationship to even greater heights," he explained. Cultural Counselor Pierre Morcos described the initiative as a "360-degree" cultural season that will unfold across 20 Korean cities from March through December 2026.
Major cultural events will include the opening of a Little Prince Museum in Busan's Gamcheon Culture Village and a virtual reality exhibition on French Impressionists at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul. France will serve as the guest of honor at April's Busan International Short Film Festival, with additional French-focused programming planned for the Busan International Dance Festival in June and the Jarasum Jazz Festival in October. In a historic first, Festival d'Avignon, France's premier performing arts showcase, will make its inaugural Asian appearance at the Seoul Performing Arts Festival in October.
The Pompidou Center is expected to open a Seoul branch during the anniversary year, further strengthening cultural ties between the two countries. Digital collaborations will also play a significant role, including the inaugural French Webtoon Festival launching online in March through a partnership with Jaedam Media's Shortz platform, and October's French Drama Festival highlighting popular French television series. "It's not just Seoul," Morcos emphasized. "We're taking French culture to Bucheon, Busan, Gwangju, Daegu -- everywhere."
The anniversary celebrations will begin in March 2026 with a concert by the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra and conclude with a closing event in Busan in December. Both governments are actively working to finalize a state visit by President Macron, which would mark his first trip to Korea since taking office in 2017 and the first visit by a French head of state in over a decade.
Ambassador Bertoux highlighted the growing strategic partnership between Seoul and Paris, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where France has identified Korea as a key partner in its geopolitical vision unveiled at last year's Shangri-La Dialogue. "Our cooperation extends far beyond culture," the ambassador noted, pointing to partnerships in nuclear energy, semiconductors, and defense. "With economic security challenges and shifting supply chains, these strategic ties matter more than ever."
An official commemorative poster designed by Ariane Darpy, a recent graduate of Nantes art school, was unveiled during Tuesday's press conference. Darpy, who studied at Korea National University of Arts in 2023, drew inspiration from chaekgeori, a traditional Korean still-life painting style, to create a visual dialogue between French and Korean cultural icons, symbolizing the artistic bridge between the two nations.
