Singer Hwasa met Kim Hye-kyung, wife of President Lee Jae Myung, and Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, in France and presented them with a special gift during Lee's state visit.
According to Cheong Wa Dae, Kim and Macron visited the Hotel de la Marine, a national heritage museum in Paris, on Tuesday (local time). They viewed "Hanjimania," a special exhibition centered on hanji, traditional Korean paper.
North Gyeongsang Province organized the exhibition to mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France. It features 17 craft pieces created through collaborations between Korean and French artists using traditional hanji materials from Mungyeong and Andong, along with samples of traditional hanji paper itself.
The two women toured the exhibition together ahead of its official opening that day. They shared a warm atmosphere as they stepped into a small room-like installation to examine the works on display.
Kim personally explained the merits and value of hanji to Macron, saying, "Hanji is made from mulberry tree bark through a unique traditional technique, giving it excellent preservation qualities and durability." She added, "It is a precious cultural heritage that is used in the restoration of cultural artifacts at major institutions abroad, including the Louvre."
Kim also expressed hope that hanji would become more widely known around the world ahead of a UNESCO announcement expected in December on its inclusion on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
Hwasa accompanied the two women during the exhibition tour and presented them with an album in a hanji case, which Kim and Macron reportedly received with delight and gratitude.
Hwasa also performed a solo set that day at a state dinner hosted by French President Macron.
The dinner was organized to strengthen practical economic and cultural cooperation between South Korea and France in commemoration of the 140th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. It was attended by President Lee and his wife along with 17 leading figures from the business and cultural sectors.
Meanwhile, the "Hanjimania" special exhibition will officially open at the Hotel de la Marine on Thursday (local time) and run for 18 days. The exhibition has been selected as an official program of Paris Design Week, a globally recognized design festival.
betterj@heraldcorp.com
