On April 3, the 2025 NRICH Ambassador Appointment Ceremony was held at Heungbokjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace. French broadcaster Fabien was appointed as the ambassador and is expected to play a key role in spreading awareness of the value of Korean cultural heritage.
The ceremony featured an ambassador inauguration event and an on-site inspection of safety and disaster preparedness. We take a look back at the appointment ceremony and hear Fabien’s thoughts and resolutions in his new role.
Welcoming a New Ambassador to the NRICH
As cherry blossoms began to bloom and the chill of winter gave way to the warm sunlight of spring, something special arrived at the NRICH.
On April 3, the 2025 NRICH Ambassador Appointment Ceremony was held at Heungbokjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace.
This event marked a grand new beginning, as the Institute launched its efforts to enhance international visibility by promoting its research achievements and actively engaging in outreach through collaboration with its ambassador.
French broadcaster Fabien was officially appointed as the 2025 ambassador of the NRICH. A former youth Taekwondo national team member in France, Fabien holds permanent residency in Korea and even acquired Level 1 Korean History Certification, demonstrating his deep interest in Korean history and cultural heritage. He also has a longstanding relationship with the NRICH, having participated in related events such as YouTube content production for the National Intangible Heritage Center in 2022 and hosting the opening ceremony of a palace museum exhibition in 2024. Fabien’s experience as an ambassador extends to many institutions. Notably, he served as a special commentator for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics and was the ambassador for the France Pavilion at the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea. In his remarks at the appointment ceremony, Fabien said, “I’ve always had a deep interest in cultural heritage, so I consider this appointment both a great honor and a meaningful opportunity.” He added, “As an ambassador, I will do my best to inspire people around the world to take an interest in Korea’s history and cultural heritage research.”
Fabien Takes His First Step as a Cultural Heritage Guardian
One of the highlights of the appointment ceremony was the on-site safety and disaster preparedness inspection, held immediately after the ambassador celebration event. In a special role as a one-day honorary curator, Fabien joined the NRICH’s safety and disaster research team to inspect various areas of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion and Hyangwonjeong Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace, checking the structural stability and preservation status. The event drew much attention for its handson nature. Following this appointment, Fabien is expected to actively promote cultural heritage in his role as ambassador over the next year, fully embracing the part of an honorary curator.
To engage a broad range of generations and enhance public awareness and recognition of the NRICH, Fabien is expected to take part in promoting various research activities, international academic events, and global exchange efforts.
As a young boy training in Taekwondo, he naturally developed an interest not only in Korea but also in its culture. As a college student, he visited Korea for the first time and experienced its cultural heritage with his own eyes and feet. Seventeen years later, Korea has become his second home. This is the story of Fabien, appointed as an ambassador for the NRICH.
“I will help make cultural heritage more accessible and familiar.”
– Fabien, Ambassador, NRICH
Q. The appointment ceremony took place at Gyeongbokgung Palace. That
must have added special meaning to the event.
A. Gyeongbokgung has become not only a Korean cultural landmark but also
one of the most popular tourist attractions for international visitors to Seoul. So to be
appointed in such a symbolic place was an incredible honor. What made it even more
special is that I currently live in Jongno-gu, so Gyeongbokgung feels both extraordinary
and familiar to me.
I pass by it at least twice a day—I often refer to it as my neighborhood palace.
That said, even for someone living nearby, it’s not easy to get the chance to explore
various parts of Gyeongbokgung up close. After the commemorative event, serving as
a one-day honorary curator and exploring rarely accessible sites like Gyeonghoeru and
Hyangwonjeong was an especially memorable experience.
Q. You’re known for your deep affection for Korea. What does Korea mean
to you personally?
A. This year marks my 16th year living in Korea. I think that fact alone reflects how
I feel about the country. Although I’ve lived here for 16 years, my connection to Korean
culture began when I was about four or five years old. Learning Taekwondo was what
first connected me to Korea and its culture—it felt like destiny. Without Taekwondo, I
don’t think I would feel the same deep affection for Korea as I do today. What began
as affection for the homeland of Taekwondo has, over the years, taken root in many
aspects of my daily life. Korea is now deeply woven into who I am.
Q. Among Korea’s diverse cultural elements, what are you most interested in?
A. I’ve always been drawn to the arts. I enjoy paintings and visual arts in general,
and I’m particularly fascinated by the unique aesthetic and artistic sensibilities found
only in Korea.
When I study the cultures of the Three Kingdoms—Baekje, Silla, and so on—I’m
amazed by their high level of artistry and often find them deeply intriguing. I’m also
very fond of Korean architecture. Unlike Europe, Korea has many wooden structures,
which I find particularly fascinating. What’s even more interesting is that many of them
are Buddhist buildings.
Most of these wooden structures are beautifully integrated into natural landscapes like
mountains and forests, creating truly stunning scenery. Take Seoul, for example: it’s a
bustling and hectic city, yet you’ll find palaces and mountains right in the center. That
coexistence with nature is one of Korea’s most captivating features.
Q. As an ambassador, which Korean cultural heritage site would you most
like to introduce to people in Korea and abroad?
A. Personally, I’m very fond of Gyeongju. It’s well known as the ancient capital of
the Silla Kingdom, which lasted for a thousand years. Among its many cultural artifacts,
I’d have to highlight Seokguram Grotto. When I first visited Korea 18 years ago as a
university student on a backpacking trip, the place that left the strongest impression on
me was Seokguram.
Back then, as a European, I knew almost nothing about Buddhist art. But after visiting
Seokguram, I was completely overwhelmed by its sheer grandeur—it was truly aweinspiring.”
That moment left such a strong impression that I can still vividly recall how I felt.
Whenever family or friends visit me in Korea, I always make sure to take them to Seokguram.
Q. As an ambassador, what is your unique approach to promoting Korean
cultural heritage? What aspects do you plan to focus on most, and what
are your goals and determination for the role?
A. When people hear the term “cultural heritage,” most react by saying it sounds
difficult or unfamiliar. Even one of my friends, upon hearing that I’d been appointed as
an ambassador, congratulated me by saying, “How did you manage to take on such a
hard task?”
But I believe cultural heritage isn’t difficult or distant at all. On the contrary, it’s
something very familiar and closely tied to our daily lives.
That’s why changing people’s perception is so important. I hope more people can feel
a closer connection to cultural heritage. As an ambassador, I’ll do my best to share
Korea’s heritage through on-site research, international events, and social media.