Le Jardin de Corée in Meaux: Where cultural exchange becomes a shared stage
It was on June 6 that, beneath the early June sun of Meaux, the Jardin des Trinitaires became the embodiment of what is seldom witnessed beyond the larger metropolitan scenes: a place of openness where several generations gathered together solely for the culture of South Korea. Organized in honor of the 140-year celebration of the friendship between France and Korea, the first Le Jardin de Corée was not concerned with transplanting Seoul into France but with a more meaningful endeavor of cultural exchange.
From the very start of the day, the event set an atmosphere that was going to permeate the coming hours. Thanks to the journalist and expert on Asian pop culture, Aude, who organized the event, it went beyond just introducing the schedule. The event was designed to be a place where people from different backgrounds and experiences would meet. For some, Korean culture was no stranger – they were long-term fans of K-pop music. For others, it was a whole new experience, with some even coming out of mere curiosity.
The event was soon officially initiated by Paris-based performance company Dorys Crew. Right off the bat, their impressive performance skills transformed the atmosphere from expectation to excitement. On that day, among other things, dance proved to be another important thread uniting all the events, not merely being part of the show but also serving as an international language that could unite people regardless of age or cultural background. This idea was further enhanced by the performance of Stormy Shot, a dance cover band which has been around since 2017 and has managed to become famous way beyond their local community, even performing on stage in South Korea itself.
Aside from these other dance performances for the day, the NEXA dancers were also present as an ensemble of five dancers based out of Paris who each carry their own distinctive style of dancing which the NEXA group blends into one identity through dance. This was demonstrated by their performance at Le Jardin de Corée where they mixed multiple forms of dance into one performance theme centering on the concepts of individuality and synchronization. The NEXA dancers have already started establishing themselves within the European K-pop dance scene by being the opening act for K-pop band TRENDZ at the Alhambra in front of an audience of more than 600 people in the year 2024.
In addition, participation played an important part in Le Jardin de Corée. While the separation of stage from audience is typical at most events, Le Jardin de Corée welcomed its guests to participate actively in everything presented on stage. The K-pop Blind Test held by content creator Claire Chave allowed the guests to switch from observers to participants in action, and the discussions on Korean culture and international growth of K-pop provided opportunities to interact rather than limit themselves to being fans. Far from seeing Korean culture simply as a series of trends, the discussions highlighted a genuine interest in South Korea itself and different ways in which it can be experienced today.
This need to connect entertainment with cultural exchange was evident in all parts of the program. Through a taekwondo performance at Hwarang Dojang Nanteuil-Les-Meaux, one was able to appreciate one of the best-known cultural phenomena in Korea, with performances by various dance groups showcasing the role K-pop is playing in the local creative scene in France. Meanwhile, a K-beauty masterclass hosted by creator Yezi involved topics related to skincare as well as the present-day beauty culture. Unfortunately, the involvement of skincare brand Round Lab had to be cancelled, owing to delays in product delivery that were outside the organizers’ reach; however, through cooperation with Kick Café, one was still able to enjoy a masterclass and giveaway activity.
Food was yet another element which helped to create the experience. Instead of being used simply as a complementing attraction, food stalls were places where the culture of the country was discovered through its cuisine. The food court at JOA K-FOOD allowed guests to discover some of the popular foods found on the streets of Korea such as corn dogs, hotteok, and grilled dak-kkochi. Another food stall in the same compound was that of restaurant Bibimbap, a Korean restaurant based in Paris with well over twenty years of service. The restaurant, run by the founder of Madame Kim along with her team and a new Korean chef, offered a different perspective of the culture of Korea.
The event also showed how the Korean culture still acts as an inspiration for local entrepreneurs as well as creators. The entire event was filled with independent exhibitors who turned their passions and interests into reality through their exhibits. Fashion had also found its home in the garden of Le Jardin de Corée. One of the independent crochet designers in the space, Elina & Crochet, takes inspiration for her fashion lines from some of the most popular K-pop stage outfits.
The clothes that she makes from the outfits worn by the idols during their performances, comebacks, and MVs serve as a reflection of their beauty. Inspired by groups like Stray Kids and others, each piece is a representation of the hard work and dedication that goes behind their designs, which also includes their love for K-pop culture. For instance, KOVER SHOP featured Korean pop culture-related merchandises and handcrafted items, while the artists and creators came up with everything ranging from crochet clothing influenced by idol’s stage costumes to handcrafted jewelry and collectibles. KPSUL photography installation gave guests an introduction to Korean self photo studios where they could get hard copies of photographs.
Some of the most vibrant aspects of the event included the handpicked lineup of independent artists and their pop-up stalls, which further enhanced the cultural significance of the festival outside of the performances itself. For instance, Magical House Shop captured people’s attention by selling K-pop-themed accessories like phone charms, keychains, and necklaces. The products at the stand were created as small but meaningful symbols of fandom, showing that the idol world continues to influence daily fashion choices, allowing people to decorate both personal items and themselves accordingly.
Another artist who left an impression on me is Nailytopia, a nail artist who managed to incorporate elements of K-pop into her manicures. Every manicure was a re-enactment of one of the K-pop groups and its era. As a result, some of the nails recreated visual aesthetics and colors featured in the album covers of various idols such as BTS, Stray Kids, BLACKPINK, or ATEEZ. This stall showed that even nail art can be a way of showcasing fandom culture and devotion to one’s favorite group.
This event also included a wider retail space thanks to the AsianTanShop booth, which provided official merchandise, CDs, and lightsticks belonging to ILLIT, NCT WISH, BABYMONSTER, BLACKPINK, and BOYNEXTDOOR artists. This area was introduced as a focal point of collectors, emphasizing the continuous movement and distribution of physical K-pop products around the world.
Apart from exhibiting booths, content creator Noura (La Corée Pour Les Boomers) also participated in the event and brought an additional storytelling element into it. Having a background as a content creator specializing in Korean pop culture in terms of interviews, traveling content, and artist meetings, Noura added an additional perspective to this festival. It is becoming increasingly clear that contemporary media and fan communities interact on several different levels; here, creators become part of the ecosystems that they represent through their content.
Instead of presenting itself as a niche event, what became clear was an entire ecosystem. From K-pop albums, second-hand records, discovering skincare products, performance art, cuisine, content creators, to organizations within Korea, there seemed to be a natural flow of elements in the same environment. Instead of trying to stand out from the rest, each of these elements complemented one another. What this led to was an event which represented the way Korean culture exists around the world not by any one particular aspect of it.
Among the highlights of the day was the appearance of STARSEED’Z in the evening after their fansign, which gave everyone a chance to interact with them on a much more personal level, as they made their way back to the stage for their showcase, which attracted one of the largest crowds of the day. However, in addition to size, it was the atmosphere that set this event apart from bigger productions.
As dusk approached, yet another change of pace came along. With the aid of a DJ set, the two South Korean DJs, CRACK and Hugo, injected some last-minute energy into the program, mixing in popular sounds of K-pop and music at festivals. Not long after, groups formed for another key event of the day: Meaux’s very first K-pop Random Play Dance. Participants entering the center of the circle as new songs played turned onlookers into dancers and strangers into temporary partners.
Once the music was over and the crowd thinned out in the Jardin des Trinitaires, the first edition of Le Jardin de Corée had proven to accomplish much more than just another party day in Paris. Rather than seeing Parisian life through its historic and national identity, the festival showed how cross-cultural experiences did not always have to happen in the capital of France. They could start in a garden, in the dining area, on the dance floor, or any place where individuals would have the chance to get to know each other better.
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