Pierre Morcos, counselor for culture, education and science at the French Embassy, speaks at a press briefing about upcoming events in the first half of this year at the Embassy of France in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

As Korean culture continues to fascinate audiences across France, the French Embassy in Korea is preparing to strengthen cultural exchanges between the two nations.

Pierre Morcos, counselor for culture, education and science at the French Embassy, said on Thursday at a press briefing in Seoul, that the embassy is committed to becoming a bridge for expanding bilateral cultural cooperation.

"Many French artists are eager to learn the secrets behind Korea's content creation," Morcos said. "Our embassy will act as a bridge to expand cultural exchanges between Korea and France, reflecting this enthusiasm."

This year, the embassy's flagship initiative is the Residency Program, designed to allow French artists to immerse themselves in Korea for three months, engage in creative activities and collaborate with local artists. One key space for this program is Villa Busan, a cultural venue established in the southeastern port city's Saha District. The facility, jointly launched by the French Embassy, Cannes and Busan Metropolitan City, opened its doors in September. Two film directors were the first to participate in the residency.

Yoann Le Tallec, cultural attaché at the French Embassy, revealed that the second round of artist residents will be selected in June. "We plan to select visual artists who will prepare various exhibitions related to Korean culture and engage in exchanges with Korean art experts," he said.

In addition to Villa Busan, the embassy is organizing a "K-pop atelier" as part of its residency program in March. Four French composers will collaborate with JYP Entertainment to create K-pop songs. They are scheduled to stay in Seoul from March 24 to 30 to focus on producing K-pop hits.

Beyond the residency program, the embassy has prepared over 20 cultural events for the first half of the year.

Kicking off with "Night of Reading" on Friday, the lineup includes a meeting with children's book author Baru from Feb. 18 to 23, pianist Olivier de Spiegeleire's performances from March 20 to 22, French Film Week from April 4 to 13 and performances by the National Orchestra of France from April 29 to May 2.

Looking ahead, 2026 marks the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. Morcos shared the embassy's vision for next year, stating, "It will be a monumental year, and we are planning events that will appeal to everyone. We aim to host exhibitions and orchestra performances not only in major cities but also in smaller towns, allowing Koreans to feel more familiar with French culture."