Embassy of Korea in France Requests Addition of Korean Announcements in Paris Metro
Increase in Korean Tourists Visiting France, Rise in Pickpocketing Incidents
Broadcasts Scheduled on Line 1 and Others for Summer and Winter Holidays
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Korean-language announcements warning against pickpocketing have begun to be broadcast in some subway stations in Paris, France.
According to Yonhap News on the 18th, such announcements can be heard on Line 1 trains in Paris. Line 1 is a key route connecting major tourist attractions in Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum. In addition, broadcasts are reportedly made at subway stations near six other popular spots, including Champs-?lys?es and Ch?telet.
This is the result of a request by the Korean Embassy in France to the Paris public transport operator (RATP) to add Korean-language announcements. Recently, the Korean Embassy made this request to RATP based on the frequent occurrence of pickpocketing targeting Korean tourists in France.
France is a representative country with a pickpocketing problem. Especially this year, as COVID-19 restrictions were eased and the number of tourists visiting France increased, pickpocketing crimes targeting them also rose.
According to the Paris Police Department, crimes such as theft and vehicle hijacking in Paris during the first quarter of this year totaled about 48,000 cases. This represents a 24.5% increase compared to last year. The police designated the period from June to September, the summer vacation season, as a special crackdown period and patrolled day and night at eight famous tourist sites, including the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre Hill, the Seine riverside, the Latin Quarter, and the Opera district.
On the afternoon of the 14th (local time), citizens gathered on the Champs-?lys?es street in Paris, France. Photo by Yonhap News
There have also been a considerable number of Korean victims. According to Yonhap News, in early August, the Korean Embassy received about two reports per day of stolen belongings such as mobile phones and wallets. It was explained that the number of reported cases, which had been quiet for the past two years, increased to pre-COVID levels this summer. An embassy official said, "During the summer vacation week, more than 20 pickpocketing reports were received," adding, "The actual number is likely much higher when including cases not reported to the embassy."
Major cases include breaking car windows to steal belongings from the passenger or back seats when cars are parked or waiting in habitual traffic jams. When traveling by subway, thieves snatch mobile phones held in hand just before the doors close and run away, or they take mobile phones after offering to take photos at famous tourist spots and then flee. Yonhap News also reported that in busy areas like Champs-?lys?es, there have been cases where people approach asking for signatures or donations for campaigns and secretly rummage through bags.
As a result, the Korean Embassy has strengthened its activities to protect overseas nationals. A representative measure is the addition of Korean-language announcements at Paris subway stations. Until now, RATP has broadcast in Chinese and Japanese based on foreign tourist visit statistics, but this is the first time Korean-language announcements have been made. This is also interpreted as reflecting the fact that the number of Korean tourists visiting France has recently increased significantly compared to Chinese and Japanese tourists, as well as the occurrence of pickpocketing incidents.
On the 16th (local time), Ambassador Yoo Daejong of the Korean Embassy in France visited the RATP headquarters to observe how the Korean announcements are conducted and commented, "Broadcasting Korean announcements at major subway stations in Paris, the world's number one tourist city, symbolizes the rise of Korea's soft power."
The broadcast period covers the winter holiday season continuing until the first week of the new year, the spring Easter vacation, and the summer vacation from June to September. The announcements, recorded by Korean men and women in their 40s selected with the cooperation of the Korean Association in France, are played last on trains and inside stations following foreign language announcements in French, English, and German.
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