President Macron Visits 'Pompidou Center Hanwha'... Reaffirms Symbol of France-Korea Cultural Cooperation

Visiting Yeouido for the 140th Anniversary of Korea-France Diplomatic Relations
Expectations for Expanding Contemporary Korean Art and International Exchange

French President Emmanuel Macron visited 'Pompidou Center Hanwha' in Yeouido, Seoul, to mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea.

The Hanwha Cultural Foundation announced on April 4 that President Macron visited 'Pompidou Center Hanwha' in Yeouido as part of his state visit to Korea on April 3. According to the foundation, this visit was arranged as an opportunity to reaffirm cultural cooperation between the two countries at the art museum, which is set to open in June.

On this day, President Macron and his spouse toured the main spaces of the museum together with Catherine Pegard, French Minister of Culture, Philippe Bertoux, French Ambassador to Korea, Laurent Le Bon, President of the Pompidou Center, Lee Seong-su, Chairman of the Hanwha Cultural Foundation, Kim Dong-won, President of Hanwha Life Insurance, and other officials from the French government, cultural sector, and Hanwha.

'Pompidou Center Hanwha' is an art museum created by remodeling the annex of the 63 Building in Yeouido, designed by French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. It has a total area of 11,000 square meters and consists of four floors.

Following the tour, a meeting between President Macron and Korean artists was also held. According to the foundation, artists including Kim Soo-ja, Lee Bae, Kim Heecheon, and Yoo Joonyoung participated in the meeting and discussed the trends of contemporary Korean art and its potential for international expansion.

According to the foundation, President Macron stated, "'Pompidou Center Hanwha' will serve as a bridge connecting France and Korea, acting as a platform for dialogue between the art communities of both countries," adding, "I hope that both countries will further expand artist exchanges and residency programs to build even closer creative partnerships."

'Pompidou Center Hanwha', established through a partnership between the Hanwha Cultural Foundation and the Pompidou Center in France, is described by the foundation as a global cultural platform that combines the artistic spirit of the Pompidou Center and the vision of Hanwha. The center aims to expand the intersection of contemporary art within the cultural context of Seoul, serving as a cultural bridge linking Korea, France, and the global art community.

Lee Seong-su, Chairman of the Hanwha Cultural Foundation, stated, "The French President's visit is an occasion to reaffirm the significance of the cultural cooperation built between the two countries through the arts, especially as we celebrate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France." He added, "'Pompidou Center Hanwha' will broaden the scope of international cultural exchange as a cultural platform connecting Korea and France."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.