First Korea-France Diplomatic Contact, the Narval Incident... Included in High School French Textbook

Naju's Central Role in the First Diplomatic Contact Highlighted in History
Featured in the Cultural Section of the Advanced High School French Textbook
A Record of Cultural Exchange... A Foundation for Future Korea-France Relations

Naju City presented certificates of appreciation to Kim Miyeon (reviewer, left in photo), Choi Naekyung (chief author, second from left) and Yang Sookyung (city advisory committee member, right) for contributing to the inclusion of the 'Nareubalho Incident' in an advanced high school French textbook. Provided by Naju City

The Narvalho incident, the first official diplomatic contact between Korea and France that took place in 1851 in waters under the jurisdiction of Naju-mok in Jeolla Province, will be included in an advanced high school French textbook. As a result, the historical value and status of present-day Naju in South Jeolla Province are also being newly highlighted.

Naju City announced on the 20th that on the 19th it had invited Choi Naekyung, chief author (professor at Seokyeong University); Kim Miyeon, review committee member (French teacher at Seoul National University High School); and Yang Sookyung, Naju municipal policy advisory committee member (director of external relations at the Korean Association of Teachers of French and former president of the Gwangju Association of Teachers of French), and presented them with certificates of appreciation for their contribution to the inclusion in the textbook.

It has long been understood that Korea and France established official diplomatic relations through the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation between Korea and France, concluded in 1886.

However, based on research by Professor Pierre Emmanuel Hoo of Paris Cit? University, the academic community has taken note of the finding that the earlier 1851 Narvalho incident was in fact the first diplomatic contact between the two countries.

The Narval (Narvalho) incident refers to the grounding of the French whaling ship Narval on April 2, 1851, in waters near Naju-mok in Jeolla Province (today Bigeumdo in Sinan-gun, South Jeolla Province). At that time, 29 crew members landed on Bigeumdo, and news of the incident was conveyed to Charles de Montigny, the French consul stationed in Shanghai, China.

On May 2 of the same year, Montigny personally visited Bigeumdo to rescue his compatriots, and Lee Jeonghyeon, then magistrate of Nampyeong who concurrently served as Naju-moksa (the local governor of Naju), courteously received the French diplomatic mission.

At this meeting, a friendly banquet was held at which Joseon traditional liquor and French champagne were shared, and the occasion has been recorded as a venue for cultural exchange that went beyond a purely humanitarian rescue operation.

The Joseon earthenware liquor bottle that Montigny received as a commemorative gift at the time is now housed in the S?vres National Ceramics Museum in France, adding to the historical symbolism of the event.

Beginning with the 2023 academic forum titled “The First Encounter between Naju and France for a Re-examination of the Diplomatic History of Korea and France,” Naju City has been promoting the creation of an exhibition and experience center themed on the Narvalho incident and the production of a historical comic book. The inclusion in the textbook is also an achievement that has been realized as an extension of these efforts.

In addition, in June last year Naju City visited Clermont-Ferrand in France, signed a friendship and exchange agreement, and has been expanding cooperation in various fields including culture, education, and agriculture.

An official from Naju City stated, "It is highly meaningful that the fact that Naju stood at the center of the first diplomatic history between Korea and France, 35 years before the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation between Korea and France, has now been recognized in the national curriculum and will be passed on to future generations. We will work to ensure that this record of friendship, which combined humanitarian rescue with food and culture, becomes a foundation for future exchanges between Korea and France."