What did a French president give to Emperor Gojong? Special exhibition marks 140 years of Korea-France ties

'Gifts and Records: 140 Years of Korea-France Friendship'

Original text of the 1886 Korea-France treaty on public display for the first time

French porcelain gifted to Emperor Gojong among the highlights

Exchanges of gifts and letters between the two countries' leaders also featured

A Sèvres porcelain piece presented by French President Sadi Carnot to Emperor Gojong [National Heritage Administration]

A special exhibition marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France opens this week, tracing the history of exchanges between the two countries through treaty documents, diplomatic gifts and official correspondence.

The National Palace Museum of Korea, under the National Heritage Administration, and the Presidential Archives of the Ministry of Interior and Safety will jointly host the exhibition — titled "Gifts and Records: 140 Years of Korea-France Friendship" — at the museum's second-floor special exhibition hall from Wednesday through Aug. 2.

The exhibition draws on original documents related to the 1886 Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Joseon and France, held separately by each country, as well as diplomatic gifts exchanged between Emperor Gojong and French President Sadi Carnot, and gifts and letters passed between successive South Korean and French heads of state.

An earthenware liquor bottle received by the French consul in Shanghai from a Naju magistrate during the 1851 rescue of the crew of the French whaling ship Narval, which ran aground off Bigeum Island in Sinan-gun [National Heritage Administration]

The exhibition is organized into five parts. The first, "Encounters Between Joseon and France," features the domestic debut of an earthenware liquor bottle that French diplomat Montigny received from a Joseon official during the 1851 rescue of the crew of the French whaling ship Narval, which ran aground off Bigeum Island in Sinan-gun. The artifact has been held by the Manufacture de Sèvres–Cité de la Céramique in France. Also on display is the "Dictionnaire Coréen-Français," the first modern Korean-foreign language dictionary, compiled by missionaries of the Paris Foreign Missions Society.

The 13 foundational articles of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Joseon and France, showing the signatures of plenipotentiaries from both sides [National Heritage Administration]

The second part, "The Conclusion of the Treaty and the Beginning of a Partnership," marks the first time the original texts of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Joseon and France — held respectively by the French Diplomatic Archives and South Korea's National Library of Korea — have been displayed together. The section also introduces materials related to the two countries' legations after the establishment of ties, as well as Catholic artifacts reflecting the spread of the faith in Joseon society after the treaty granted freedom of missionary activity, including a land purchase journal for the construction of Myeongdong Cathedral.

Original "banhwa" — a decorative craft piece replicating potted plants and flowers in precious materials [National Heritage Administration]

The third part, "Gifts Between the Joseon King and the French President," showcases the polychrome white porcelain "Salamina" vase that President Carnot presented to Emperor Gojong, alongside two celadon bowls Gojong gave in return. Also on display are the "Wonhaeng Eulmyo Jeongni Uigwe" royal protocol document, the Goryeo history "Hwichan Yeosa," and a pair of replica "banhwa" — decorative craft pieces replicating potted plants and flowers in precious materials. The originals are held by the Musée national des arts asiatiques–Guimet in Paris. The replicas are one of two pairs produced in 2024 by Kim Yeong-hui, a national intangible heritage master in jade craftsmanship, under a sponsorship agreement between the National Heritage Administration and Amorepacific's Sulwhasoo.

A polychrome white porcelain plate presented by French President François Mitterrand to President Kim Young-sam at the 1993 Seoul summit talks [National Heritage Administration]

The fourth part, "The Korean Provisional Government and French Solidarity," examines the ties that persisted between Korea and France during the Japanese colonial period. The fifth part, "A Continuing Friendship: South Korea and France," presents silver tableware, porcelain and small lacquered tables received by South Korean presidents from their French counterparts, as well as mother-of-pearl lacquerware boxes and celadon inlay pieces that former presidents Roh Tae-woo and Kim Young-sam gifted to former French President François Mitterrand. The section conveys the texture of modern diplomacy through the full range of gifts and letters the two countries' leaders exchanged, accompanied by archival footage.

Education programs tied to the exhibition will run throughout its duration. A lecture series on royal culture for adults — "In-Depth Exploration of Royal Culture" — will offer commentary on the diplomatic history of Korea and France and the exhibited artifacts across three sessions on July 1, July 8 and July 15. A guided exhibition tour with activity sheets for students in grades four through six will run 18 times from July 4 through Aug. 1.

Poster for the special exhibition marking the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations

The exhibition is free and open to the public daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the National Palace Museum of Korea, except on the last Monday of each month when the museum is closed. Guided commentary will be available at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. throughout the run. After the Seoul exhibition closes, a traveling version will be held at the Presidential Archives in Sejong from Aug. 14 through Sept. 13.

The National Palace Museum of Korea and the Presidential Archives said they plan to continue working with related institutions to expand the exhibition and use of royal heritage assets as part of their ongoing proactive administrative efforts.

terry@heraldcorp.com