French Stamps at Petite France
Mr. Han had a dream: to offer his fellow Koreans a taste of what
inspired his love for France. This dream became the Petite France
project: an hour’s drive from Seoul, an urban area home to some 25
million residents, Mr. Han found a quiet location on the shore of Lake
Gapyeong. Here he built something between a town and a museum: each
house reflects French culture. Visitors can take a few days’ break here,
staying in French-style houses furnished in the French manner with
furniture imported directly from France. The distinctive architecture of
Petite France has even proved a magnet for the film crew of Beethoven
Virus, a hugely popular TV series in Korea.
Here,
the Little Prince is the guest of honour. Mr. Han takes a keen
interest in French literature and enjoys the works of Antoine de
Saint-Exupéry, in particular The Little Prince. His favourite
passage? The meeting with the fox, of course! In a country where over
350 different editions of The Little Prince
are to be found, not to mention the comic strip versions, those who are
familiar with the Little Prince or even those who have only heard of
him are delighted when they come to “Petite France” to find statues and
wall paintings evoking the world of this magical character at every
turn.
With the support of the Saint-Exupéry estate, Mr. Han was keen to
combine French lifestyle with the message of a tale that is also a
lesson for life. In Korea, Saint-Exupéry is seen as a kind of legend, a
knight of the skies and also a philosophical and humanist
touchstone. Mr. Han is delighted to share his admiration with those
he welcomes to his village. Visitors queue up to have their photos
taken standing next to the statue of the Little Prince or his friend
the fox. A permanent exhibition introduces them to the life of Antoine
de Saint-Exupéry and the origins of “The Little Prince”, and a theatre
show has been specially created for the youngest visitors. More than just a tourist attraction hoping to attract some 500,000
visitors annually, Petite France is a special place, offering not
only the pleasure of living life French-style but also a chance to
reflect on life in the company of a fairytale character.