French Foreign Minister launches French Tech Hub Seoul - South Korea

On March 24, 2016, the French Tech Hub Seoul was launched at Yello Mobile's headquarters in Seoul, in presence French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc AYRAULT, who was on official visit to South Korea.  
The French Tech Hub Seoul initiative had been announced last year during the State visit of French President François HOLLANDE to South Korea in November.
As a business community and a supporting network, the French Tech Hub Seoul will provide practical information to French startups already settled in Korea, and will be aimed at giving more exposure to young French entrepreneurs and startups willing to develop their businesses in South Korea, as well as Korea startups interested in the French market. 
During his speech at the launching event, Minister AYRAULT stated that "France and Korea have somehow the same vision of progress. We are closer than some would imagine. […] The mission of the French Tech Hub we are inaugurating today is precisely to support young talents, young entrepreneurs who are engaged in an innovation project."
On the same day, Minster AYRAULT had been received by South Korean President PARK Geun-hye, who has highlighted the French Tech Hub Séoul as a model for cooperation between France and Korea.
This launching ceremony is part of the many events that are organized within the framework of the 2015-2016 France Korea-Year, celebrating the 130th aniversary of the diplomatic ties between both countries. 
Catherine GERMIER-HAMEL, Founder & CEO of Millennium Destinations, attended the launching event, as well as the reception hosted on the same day at the French embassy in South Korea for the French community. 
Millennium Destinations is currently organizing the 2016 Seoul Smart Tourism Forum, which will take place later this year.

About French Tech Hub
Established in 2013, “La French Tech” is a public initiative which aims at improving the French startup ecosystem and developing its international attractiveness.
“La French Tech” refers to every action, every effort and everyone working for or with French startups, either in France or abroad. “French Tech Hub” is one of its main initiatives for internationalization.
Only a number of cities abroad are selected as French Tech Hubs, in the most dynamic and promising international metropolitan areas in terms of innovation.
As from March 2016, Seoul will be hosting the French Tech Hub along with New York, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, San Francisco and Moscow. French Tech Hub Seoul aims to create a dynamic community of partners on a free, open and nonbinding basis.
his community will come together online and offline, through an official website, SNS and several networking events.
French Tech Hub Seoul is not just an incubator, nor a program. It is an actual community where the French and Korean players of the startup ecosystem can exchange information, build partnership and even create business!
The goal of the initiative is to create a single window for international partnership to connect the two startup ecosystems.
​It will bring together French and Korean partners, both public and private: entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, experts, large groups, media, and officials. 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc AYRAULT (right) with French Ambassador to South Korea Fabien PENONE (2nd from right), the 2nd Korean vice-minister of Trade WOOTae-hee (3rd from right), and the Director in charge of cultural contents at the Korean Ministry of Culture YOON Tae-yong (left)

Reception at the French Embassy in South Korea, with French Foreign Minister AYRAULT

Catherine GERMIER-HAMEL, Founder & CEO of Millennium Destinations (right) with Ms. Bosun KIM, Co-Founder & CEO of Seoul-based digital marketing agency Asiance