Fete de la Musique Seoul

A major success in France for 30 years, the Fete de la Musique has been exported to many countries over the past few years (as World Music Day).

Seoul will experience its 4th edition on Saturday the 18th, 2011 in its "quartier francais", Seorae Village (around Seorae-ro in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu).



The program (contact : Seorae Global Village Center, Tel +82.2.2155.8949) :
13:30-15:00 : performances, residents party... (in Montmartre Park)
14:30-15:00 : musical parade (Lycee Francais de Seoul, Gingko Park, Montmartre Park), military fanfare...
15:20-15:50 : Baekseok Arts University shows
15:50-17:30 : French songs contest featuring 10 teams of students (Montmartre Park)
17:30-18:00 : young Lycee Francais de Seoul students' perform Samulnori, Halliangmoo, and Choonghyangi wa Leedoryong
18:00-18:20 : gala kick off
18:20-20:00 : Korean performers (Crying Nut, Jo Ha-ni, Lim Hyeong-soon, Yu Yeol, Maya)
20:00-21:30 : French performers (Zaza Fournier)
21:30-21:35 : Fireworks

Seoul Village 2011
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UPDATE 20110614 : event poster

Seoul Marche de Noel

Dear fellow French citizens / French food lovers,

Just like last year, the 2010 edition of le Marche de Noel du Seorae Village (Xmas Market in 서래마을) will be held from 10 to 16 in Gingko Park (은행나무 공원). Only the date changes : this year, December the 4th.





A Rabelaisian character if I ever saw one, Santa will join the party.

Seoul Village 2010

Seoul Goes Underground

Winter has come to Seoul : minus 9 celcius these days.

OH Se-hoon has come to Montreal : Seoul Mayor wants to build an underground city where citizens can walk in any season.

When I first came to Seoul about 20 years ago that's actually the image I had of downtown Seoul : the only place where pedestrians could cross major streets seemed to be those underground arcades and subway stations. But there was no continuity to it - only a collection of more or less messy clusters.

Messy yet lively. Back then, a lot of business happened there. Nowadays, these places look like time capsules roamed by LP or stamp collectors. Bigger underground markets like the one in Banpo, connected to the Express Bus Terminal and subway, are full of life but suffocating with their narrow maze and low ceilings...

But here, OH wants to build a real city, complete with its habitations.

So my first reaction is : why not, but take the time to make something nice and sustainable. Something Seoulites and tourists will feel comfortable in. Not just transit corridors or a soulless shopping mall. Real streets (with signs and a design respectful of the city's culture), real light (there are already systems which actually demultiply sunlight inside buildings), natural air conditioning, consistant biomass, light public transformations, seamless transitions with open air... Not a parallel, underground city, but the foundation for a better Seoul.

And please, not yet another "New Town", not yet another "U city" : technology yes, but invisible.

A fascinating challenge.

Seoul Village 2009

Marche de Noel 2009 Sorae Village

Dear fellow French citizens,

You love foie gras, wine, and cheese ? Rejoice !

The 2009 edition of le Marche de Noel du Seorae Village (Xmas Market in 서래마을) will be held from 10 to 16 on December the 5th in Gingko Park (은행나무 공원).

That's in Banpo-4 dong, Seocho-gu, close to the Seoul Palace Hotel, East of Seorae Maeul's main street - the Lycee Francais is on the other side of Seoraero.

Beyond the satisfaction of gourmet palates, the event serves a noble cause (helping the needy).

The Marche de Noel is organized by AFDE-Coree (Association Démocratique des Français à l'Etranger), an association headed by none other than Benjamin Joinau, who knows one thing or two about good food - make that at least two : Le StEx, La Plancha.

Seoul Village 2009