Despite Korea’s obsession with doing things at breakneck speeds, French Ambassador Jerome Pasquier thinks Koreans should slow down and appreciate finer things in life ― traditional houses, bucolic roads and national parks.

Speaking at the second anniversary of the 5.4 Club, Pasquier said for Korea to take the next qualitative leap forward to become an attractive tourism destination, “You don’t need to modernize too much.”

“French people like tradition and traditional places,” Pasquier told The Korea Herald. “It’s convenient to have highways, but it’s also nice to drive on small roads where you can see the landscape.”

Pasquier was responding to tourism-related surveys carried out by the Corea Image Communication Institute, which hosted the event at Lotte Hotel on March 17.

The 5.4 Club holds year-round gatherings aimed at celebrating the four pleasures of seeing, eating, enjoying and talking. Its members are professionals from diverse countries with an interest in promoting Korea around the world.

Jordanian Ambassador Omar Nahar said, “When I first came to Korea, I was told that Korea is surrounded by three different seas ― Donghae (East Sea), Namhae (South Sea) and Soehae (West Sea).”

“But over the next four years, meeting beautiful friends at CICI, I discovered the fourth one ― Saranghae (I love you).” The crowd cheered and clinked their wineglasses.

Pasquier said Korea lost important connections with the past in its pursuit of modernity.

“Sadly, you had a lot of destructions. But you still have very nice places like old temples and national parks,” he said. “It’s also nice to walk and hike there in the mountains.”

Bukchon Hanok Village is another spot the ambassador likes to visit.

When asked whether he felt uncomfortable at Korea’s raucous and coarse traditional markets, he said, “French people feel comfortable everywhere, you know. It’s very nice to go to the Noryangjin Fish Market and other markets in Seoul and Busan.”

Pasquier noted foreigners feel unsafe walking on the streets in Korea due to the pedestrians-unfriendly drivers. “In France, usually when people cross the streets, cars stop,” he said.

“In Korea, not always. You have to be careful. The driving culture needs improvement. I think so.”

The ambassador said the embassy is preparing “very big events” to celebrate the 130th anniversary of ties with Korea next year.

“We want to show that France is a very important and friendly country to Korea,” Pasquier said without further explaining. The programs are confidential, “Because we want to surprise everybody.”

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)