French Embassy starts off year with cultural outreach

The French Embassy in Seoul kicked off its signature book recital event Saturday, heralding a number of cultural activities scheduled for this year for the local audience.

The second edition of the annual Rendez-vous a Seoul mainly involves having visitors recite anything written in French, from books to periodicals. It is an occasion for advancing the traditions that value reading and sharing, according to an embassy official.

“The French government first started this program eight years ago in other places. We launched it here last year and people really loved it,” the official said, adding the event aims to reach out even to those interested in publishing French works like literature.

Yoon Seok-heon, president of local publisher LESMOTS, was invited to share his experience translating French literature. Since 2019, the one-person publishing company has released 18 books. Yoon said he plans to publish 10 more by December, noting he employs freelance translators and editors to get the job done.

“There is no perfect translation, so to speak. But we can aim for a smooth translation,” Yoon told a group of roughly 50 people, one of whom came from Jeonju, about two hours away from Seoul by KTX.

Devoted to French literature, Yoon described his passion as the driving force that makes him push through the difficulties he faces every day.

“Translation isn’t easy; it’s arduous in the first place. Translating a piece of literature you don’t even like makes that job a thousand times harder,” Yoon explained.

Artificial intelligence, he added, would not be able to replace him, because literature translation involves dissecting the “mood, sentiment and essentially the narrative encompassing them,” which is work that goes beyond merely “exchanging information.”

Saturday’s event included French cinemas and performances by a local jazz orchestra led by pianist and composer Lee Ji-yeun. A quartet from the 24-member orchestra played songs written by Lee, livening up the mood late into the night.