Korean Year In France Kicks Off In September To Celebrate 130 Years Of Diplomatic Ties Between The Two Nations
On Friday, President of France Francois Hollande celebrated the beginning of Korean Year in France at the Elysee palace with South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo Ahn where the French president also announced his visit to Seoul on November as he stops by China for climate talks.
RFI reported on Friday the Korean Year celebration commemorates the one hundred thirtieth anniversary of South Korea and France's diplomatic relations in 2016.
In the event, Hollande and Hwang vowed to further strengthen bilateral diplomatic and political cooperation and support as they talked about boosting investments, encouraging innovation and enhancing industrial partnerships to broaden their economic ties, reported Xinhuanet News on Friday.
The Korean Year will commence in France on Starting September under the 2015-2016 Bilateral Exchange, which will be celebrated in French citied, including Lyon, Nantes, Nice and Paris until August 2016. French Year in Korea on the other hand, will begin four months after in South Korean cities, including Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Seoul, and will continue throughout 2016.
Chosun Media noted on Monday the Korean-France Year will be celebrated with approximately 200 events showcasing the art, culture and cuisine of both countries.
The celebration on Friday featured musical numbers, including a traditional Korean song "Arirang" performed by Na Yoon Sun and a royal ancestral ritual music, which was performed by a large Korean troupe at the Palais de Chaillot. Psy's Youtube-popularized song "Gangnam Style" was also played over the loudspeakers.
The Eiffel Tower was also lit with the Korean flag's colors red and blue.
Hollande and Hwang also signed an agreement on Thursday that will reduce the time it takes for South Korean businesspeople to be issued a visa from three months to one month, with the renewal period lengthened from one year to three years. In addition, France also agreed to extend the stay of students from South Korea in their country from one year to two years.