From K-Pop to Seoul Subway: South Korea Becomes Part of Daily Life in France

[Anchor]

To mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France, a K-pop concert was held in the heart of Paris. Beyond music, Korean food, cosmetics, and even a replica of a Seoul subway station have captured the attention of locals.

Reporter Park Seyong has the story.

[Reporter]

A concert venue set up in the center of Paris, France.

All 3,700 seats were completely filled.

The audience enjoyed the K-pop performances, waving placards bearing the names of their favorite artists.

The concert, held as an official event of the K-Expo to commemorate the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic ties, served as a stage showcasing cultural exchange between the two nations and lasted for two and a half hours.

[Choi Hwi-young / Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism: It has been 140 years since South Korea and France made a promise of friendship in 1886. I hope that for all of you who came to see Korean K-pop singers today, the sky over Paris will be colored in rose.]

The passion for K-pop is spreading into curiosity about Korean culture as a whole.

Even in France, where there is immense pride in gastronomy, more people are seeking to taste Korean dishes that are distinct from their own, such as ramen, tteokbokki, abalone dishes, and fish cakes.

[Anna / K-Expo Visitor: I think it's quite common to want to eat the food you've seen in Korean dramas or internet content.]

Interest in Korean cosmetics, which ranked second in the world by export value last year, is also high.

A booth designed to look like the interior of a Seoul Subway Line 2 train brought back memories for those who have visited Korea.

The subway station announcement jingle has also become a familiar melody.

[Giovanni / K-Expo Visitor: (Have you ridden Line 2?) Yes. (Do you remember this announcement?) Of course, I remember. I really love this music.]

A total of about 20,000 people visited the K-Expo, which was held over three days.

Starting from the dazzling K-pop stage, Korean culture is now permeating the daily lives of the French people.

(Video coverage: Kim Si-nae, Video editing: Kim Jong-mi)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.