This is the garden in front of Korea House for the Paris Summer Olympics in the French capital. (Korea Sport & Olympic Committee)
By Lee Kyoung Mi
The largest Korea House in history will be open from July 25 to Aug. 11 for the Paris Summer Olympics.
Jointly run by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) to promote Korean culture, the facility is located at Maison de la Chimie at the heart of the French capital’s seventh arrondissement (district).
Debuting at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, Korea House supports the national team and serves as the base of the country’s sports diplomacy.
A large number of people is expected to attend the Paris competition, which will be the first Summer Olympics to hold the opening ceremony outdoors and the first since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. All events will also be open to the public.
Thus the ministry and KSOC will run Korea House as a complex cultural space to promote the diversity of Korean culture to visitors.
For this purpose, a combined 15 public and private organizations will take part in the competition for the first time by hosting exhibitions, interactive events and concerts by sector.
The events include content commanding high interest abroad like K-pop cover dance and related classes, snack giveaways and makeup demonstrations. A dance performance by Korean and French youths will be held under the theme of the Olympic spirit of unity and friendship.
Other events will offer traditional culture experiences like those of Hanji (traditional paper) and Hansik (traditional food) as well as a Hanbok (traditional attire) fashion show.
Korea House will also support the national team as the base for the country’s sports diplomacy by running a rest area for athletes, hosting cheering events and holding celebratory programs and interviews with medal-winning competitors.
The day before the closing ceremony, it will host the event Athletes Day to encourage Team Korea to do its best on the Olympic stage.
Those interested in visiting can make a reservation on Korea House’s official website (https://teamkoreahouse.co.kr) for free admission.
km137426@korea.kr
