Interview with Fabien Yoon: Young Frenchman, Star in Korea<

Difficult not to know who it is when you live in South Korea.Arrived in Korea for the first time in 2008, Fabien cultivated an interest in the country of calm from a very young age thanks to the Taekwondo.In 10 years of life here, he has gradually become a real mascot of France in the eyes of Koreans.

Our editorial staff went to meet him to find out more about his unique career and his career on the South Korean media scene.Fabien Yoon is the winner in 2016 of the public prize for the French trophies abroad, event organized by lepetitjournal.com.

Lepetitjournal.com/seoul - Tell us a little of your life before Korea and how you are interested.

Fabien Yoon - I am from Paris where I did a master of international trade at the university and where I took theater lessons.The first time I have heard of Korea, I was 5 years old and I had just started Taekwondo lessons.From there, I started to be interested in Korean films and K-Pop.

Today, thanks to the Internet you can have access to Korean culture in one click but when you started to look at it it must have been a little more complicated, right?

Yes, at the time it was VHS ... I was going to a 13th grade shop that sold CDS of Japanese, Chinese or Vietnamese music and I asked them to import the Korean music CDs for me.

This is also how I started watching Korean films and dramas.In the early 2000s, it was a little easier with the Internet.But it was still quite complicated to have access to Korean culture, you really had to put it.

When did you arrive in Korea for the first time?

It was just 10 years ago.I made a first trip in summer 2007 and my project was to stay there for two months since I had to return to Paris to finish a semester at university.Once back to Paris, I had only one idea in mind it was to go back there as quickly as possible.

During this trip, I really wanted to enjoy a maximum because I did not know if I would have the opportunity to come back.My goal was to learn as much as possible about this country that had fascinated me for 15 years.I have traveled a lot in the country and tried to meet as many people as possible and do a lot of different things.

Many things have changed in Korea since your first arrival and now, especially with regard to the number of foreigners present in the country.How did you perceive this evolution?

Compared to some French people who have been there for 20 or 30 years, it's not long since I live in Korea.They have known another Korea squarely.

But Korea of 2007 and Korea in 2017, it still has nothing to do.The number of foreigners has more than doubled and the number of tourists has experienced exponential growth.In 2007, I met some foreigners (Caucasians) but it was really very rare, especially French!

That said, the Koreans have always been very kind and helpful.Before there was a curious and really surprised little eye especially when you spoke a little Korean.But now they are much more used to it.

You have reached a certain level of notoriety in Korea, you appear on television in different programs, you have played in dramas, you have released a kitchen book ... Tell us in a few words this amazing route.

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— Andre Infante Mon Mar 22 20:38:51 +0000 2021

When I returned to Korea in 2008, I worked for a modeling agency in Seoul to pay Korean lessons.After six months, I started to be able to speak Korean properly and succeed in expressing myself better.

I have always loved the theater and put myself on the scene, to have fun I often played comedy in front of my friends and they are the ones who encouraged me to pass auditions.At the time I had no career ambition here, I was thinking of returning to Paris to do theater or script, that's what interested me.

But I liked life in Korea and I had great opportunities compared to modeling so I decided to stay and as I missed the theater I told myself that I was going to try it!I started looking for a theater troop, which was not easy since my Korean was far from perfect.

After numerous refusals, I was tried in a troop in October 2009. After 6 months of practice and training on my pronunciation, I had a first role in a room.

I did theater for 2 years and one day a producer offered to cast a casting for a drama.I had the role and that's where I started television.I have played in several dramas for 3-4 years.

What do your French family and friends think of your career and your celebrity in Korea?

At first they were quite surprised, they knew that I liked Taekwondo but they were very curious to know why I did not return to France.My family in particular was curious but always respected my choice.

They don't really realize I think.It always surprises them when I go back to Paris and Koreans recognize me on the street and ask me to take a photo.Even when I went on TV in France to promote my book, they had trouble believing it (laughs).

You have somehow become a mascot of France in the eyes of Koreans.How would you describe your role as a representative of France in Korea?

My unofficial role is to give a good image of the country.As I have a status as a public character, I try to broadcast a good image so that the Koreans want to take an interest in France.It is not too difficult because they already have a very good image of our country, especially with regard to gastronomy, luxury products, haute couture.

My more official role, in partnership with the Embassy, the French Institute and the Chamber of Commerce, is to present or animate certain events.I've been living here for 10 years so I try to invest myself as much as possible in the life of the French Community of Korea.

You probably have an already busy calendar but do you have other projects to come?

I always have lots of projects (laughs)!In particular a project for a new book, which has nothing to do with cooking but which is more focused on Korean culture.Not long ago I also started creating commercial and lifestyle videos for companies.And I also do the translation of French-Korean books.

The radio and TV shows that I lead me quite busy but I like to develop new skills so I always try to have an activity other than work but which can serve me.For example, I learned Japanese for 2 years and there I got into Chinese.

My loved ones often ask me when I have a little vacation but I love what I do so I don't even have the impression of working!