Reminiscent of a Traditional Market Merchant
Captivating Tourists with Fluent Korean
YouTube Review Videos Pour In
A Black merchant who fluently welcomes tourists in Korean at the square in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, is becoming a sensation among Korean tourists. This merchant is none other than Paco, a souvenir seller from Senegal. Recently, reviews have been posted on YouTube and social media saying that people are visiting the Eiffel Tower just to see him.
Paco, a Black merchant fluently welcoming tourists in Korean at the square in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. YouTube channel Exploring Europe
According to YouTube and other sources on July 5, Paco, who works at the Trocad?ro Square in Paris, approaches Korean middle-aged women in a friendly manner by calling them "eomeonim" (mother) and men "hyeongnim" (older brother), naturally engaging them as he sells keychains, Eiffel Tower models, and other souvenirs. He jokes, "I give discounts to Koreans," and his affectionate tone, intonation, and gestures closely resemble those of a merchant in a traditional Korean market.
He goes beyond simply attracting customers by shouting "Hana, dul, set!" (one, two, three) as he takes commemorative photos for tourists with the Eiffel Tower in the background, giving directions for poses and even adjusting the camera angle, all to provide a 'customer satisfaction' service. Thanks to his kindness, tourists are enthusiastic, saying, "The price of the goods is worth it."
Paco is not only fluent in Korean but also speaks English, Spanish, Indonesian, and Tagalog. Although he has never visited Korea, he naturally picked up the language by spending time with Korean guides. In particular, interacting with tourists who speak in dialects is said to have made his Korean intonation even more natural.
In some videos, Paco salutes customers, calling out "Hyeongnim!" or makes them laugh with phrases like "I'll give you a bongdari (plastic bag)," showing a side that seems to have fully embraced Korean culture and sentiment.
Paco, a Black merchant fluently welcoming tourists in Korean at the square in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. YouTube channel Exploring Europe
Paco has already appeared on Korean television. In 2022, he was featured on the JTBC travel variety show "Let’s Go Together Returns," where the cast happened to meet him on the streets of Paris. At the time, Kim Yongman, Ahn Junghwan, Kim Donghyun, and Jung Hyungdon were among the cast members, and Paco surprised them by approaching naturally and saying, "I'll give Koreans a discount." Kim Donghyun even bought baby clothes from Paco's truck, creating an amusing scene.
Even though Korean consumers are known to be price-sensitive, especially at tourist spots, they are more than willing to open their wallets thanks to Paco's warm and friendly service. Among Korean travelers, there is even a saying: "If you're going to see the Eiffel Tower, you must also meet Paco."
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