France marks 140 years of ties with Korea at largest-ever Bastille Day in Seoul

France celebrated its National Day, commonly known as Bastille Day, in Seoul on July 14, with this year's reception carrying added significance as the two countries marked the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, the reception drew around 1,000 guests, making it the largest French National Day celebration ever hosted by the French Embassy in Korea.

The embassy began holding its Bastille Day reception at an external venue last year, after traditionally hosting the event at the ambassador's residence, reflecting the growing scale of bilateral exchanges.

The holiday traces its origins to the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris on July 14, 1789, an event widely regarded as the beginning of the French Revolution.

It also commemorates the Fête de la Fédération, held one year later to celebrate national unity following the revolution.

July 14 was officially designated as France's national holiday in 1880 and has since been observed with military parades, fireworks and public festivities across the country, most notably the annual parade along the C ...