The historical ‘Narval Incident,’ marking the first diplomatic contact between Korea and France, has been included in a high school French textbook in South Korea.
The Narval Incident, which took place 170 years ago, is recognized as the first diplomatic contact between Korea and France. On April 2, 1851, the French whaling ship 'Narval' ran aground near Naju, leading to 29 crew members landing on the nearby Bigeum Island. A local official, Lee Jeong-hyeon, attempted to communicate with the crew but faced language barriers, and some sailors ended up reaching out to the French consul in Shanghai for assistance. Despite the prevailing anti-Western sentiment in Korea at the time, the island residents welcomed and took care of the stranded French sailors, showcasing an early form of cross-cultural interaction.
On the anniversary of this incident, the city of Naju recognized the contributions of key individuals instrumental in including this historical event in educational materials, such as Che Nam-kyung, the leading author of the textbook, and others who reviewed the content. This acknowledgment reflects a significant step toward understanding and acknowledging the early diplomatic relations between Korea and France, as illustrated by the shared meal of traditional Korean liquor and French champagne between Lee Jeong-hyeon and the French consul before the crew's departure.
The Naju city government has been proactive in highlighting the Narval Incident and its importance in Korean-French relations, starting with an academic forum aimed at redefining the history of diplomacy between the two nations. Their efforts include creating an exhibition experience center and producing historical comics, emphasizing the impact of this early diplomatic encounter on contemporary educational frameworks. As noted by city officials, this inclusion fosters a foundation for future exchanges and goodwill between Korea and France, reinforcing the need for continued cultural and diplomatic engagement.
