KOREA FOUNDATION

The Corée d’Ici (Korea is Here) Festival was launched in 2015 in Montpellier, France, to mark the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea, with this year’s edition being its sixth. The Korea Foundation (KF) has supported the participation of many Korean artists in the event to further promote bilateral cultural exchange. The Foundation’s newsletter interviewed Nam Young-ho, the festival’s founder and artistic director.

A Korean modern dancer thought of starting a Korean culture festival in France.
The Montpellier government’s interest and the cooperation of French artists,
as well as the KF’s support, eased the participation of Korean artists in the festival.
Corée d’Ici is now a major foreign culture festival in southern France.

How has your experience been to convert the festival into an online event?
Considering the COVID-19 situation here in France, we decided to turn it into an online affair entirely and changed the schedule accordingly. The opening was on November 13, and, since everything takes place online, we will probably extend the festival period to attract as many participants as possible. We have a wide range of events with varying themes and added content such as workshops and interviews with artists to help the audience understand performances and exhibitions. Our theme this year is “Identity and Technology.” Particularly meaningful is the technology aspect, as Korea could be a little ahead of France in certain technological fields. We will also introduce Korea to our host country as a culturally advanced nation. Since we couldn’t bring Korean IT engineers to France, it’s been very difficult to put the theme into practice this time but I want to do it properly next time.

How did you think of holding a Korean culture festival in Montpellier?
Upon hearing that many commemorative events of cultural exchange would be held in 2015 to mark the 130th anniversary of French-Korean ties, I began to prepare for the festival around 2013. By that time, I‘d been living in France for 23 years, including 20 in Montpellier. As a Korean (modern) dancer active in France, I thought I could promote Korea to people here through festival. Fortunately, the Montpellier municipal government gladly cooperated with me after reviewing my plan. I was allowed to use some 10 venues free of charge such as the municipal theater and the opera hall, and the city actively supported my promotional efforts, too.

Official website of Corée d’Ici, a Korean culture festival in France (www.festivalcoreedici.com)

Corée d’Ici is considered a major festival of foreign culture in Montpellier. How influential is it?
Montpellier is where many French people would like to live due to its nice climate, an environment typical of southern France, and rich arts and culture. Every year, 200–300 festivals are held here, with Corée d’Ici being the third largest among all foreign culture festivals. It’s become an official event in Montpellier where artists, related organizations, and residents gather. I think the festival has provided momentum for the signing of a memorandum of understanding on education exchange between Montpellier and the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education in Korea, as well as the launch of Korean-related education in the French city. In Montpellier alone, Korean culture classes and Korean language classes are now offered at three junior high and two high schools. A newly formed youth organization here will also seek to bring together young people from the two countries to talk about the arts.

Did rising French interest in the festival change the event’s content?
We were initially more focused on introducing traditional Korean art forms, but as time went by, we tried harder to promote Korea overall in Montpellier. For instance, because of the increase number of K-pop fans here, we’re thinking of letting Corée d’Ici embrace the local demand for K-pop. A group of K-pop fans told us of their wish to join our festival, and we added a “K-pop Challenge” to our program by connecting B-boy artists in Montpellier and Korea. The festival’s influence is apparently growing with its widening scope and the entry of external organizations and artists.

PR video for the 2020 Corée d’Ici festival (https://youtu.be/OdUsGvT-3x8)

What have you learned as the festival‘s artistic director?
I was active here as a dancer for quite some time, yet my contacts were rather limited and I didn’t know much about other genres like pop art. As artistic director, I think I‘ve matured while working with other people in new genres. To hold a arts and culture festival, many people have to experience unfamiliar things, share them with each other, and get out of their comfort zones. Isn’t this the very reason why such festivals are held and inter-country exchanges are meaningful?

What difficulties have you faced in hosting the festival?
Early on, my French friends and artists resolved many problems by donating their talents for Corée d’Ici, making the festival a joint project. I‘ve also received a lot of support from Montpellier and Korea. And the KF has especially helped us plan and prepare for the event with ease by making decisions on financial support far in advance. The largest obstacle in inviting Korean artists to perform here is the airfare. Once this expense is settled, we can take the necessary steps toward ensuring good performances. This year has been tough for overseas travel, so getting the necessary funds to make our festival go online was a big help. When we receive support from Korea like this, the Montpellier city government and other institutions and organizations gain greater confidence in us and more actively join our efforts. So, the KF’s support means more than just covering the necessary expenses.

As both the founder and artistic director of the festival, what are your hopes for the event?
First, I wish for the festival to go on and on. It doesn’t have to be me doing it. I only wish that the festival continues in a more systematic and substantial way. My second wish is to have a Korea House where the festival is planned and Korean culture classes and events are held year-round. The Montpellier city government is positive about offering a space, and I want to realize my wish by cooperating with the Korean government or related institutions. Paris has a Korean Cultural Center (KCC) but it’s quite far from Montpellier. I hope an institution similar to the KCC will be set up in southern France and serve as a bridgehead to spread Korean culture throughout the Mediterranean and Europe.