PARIS -- Korea House, designed to serve as the hospitality venue showcasing South Korean culture and supporting the country's athletes during the Paris Olympics, held its official opening ceremony on Thursday. The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) and the sports ministry are operating Korea House out of Maison de la Chimie, an international conference center in the French capital.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee Kee-heung, Vice Sports Minister Jang Mi-ran, and South Korean Ambassador to France Choi Jai-chul were among the 190 guests attending the ceremony. Korea House, first established during the 2004 Athens Olympics, was not present during the last two Olympic Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For Paris 2024, the KSOC and the sports ministry have built the largest-ever Korea House, transforming it into a cultural complex featuring exhibitions, hands-on events, and performances to promote Korean culture.
Korea House is located on the third floor of Maison de la Chimie and will remain open through August 11, the final day of the Olympics. During the Games, Korea House will host watch parties for events featuring South Korean athletes and present various cultural performances, including a ballet, a fashion show featuring traditional Korean attire (hanbok), and a dance show with young performers from South Korea and France.
KSOC President Lee stated, "To best promote our culture in Paris, a city famous for its arts and culture, we started preparing for this edition of Korea House two years ago." Korea House will host "Korea Day" on August 1, with officials from the International Olympic Committee and other global organizations attending for networking opportunities. August 10 has been designated as "Athletes' Day," with South Korean Olympians invited to Korea House to celebrate their performances.
Admission to Korea House is free, with tickets available online. More information on tickets and programs can be found on the official website (https://teamkoreahouse.co.kr).