South Korea’s Paradise City Resort in Incheon is transforming into a temporary “Paris” from July 19 to August 31, 2024, with a festival featuring French cuisine, aviation-themed competitions, and a chance to win round-trip flights to the real City of Light. Organized in collaboration with France’s national tourism agency, Atout France, the event—dubbed “Parisien Summer”—marks the first large-scale French cultural festival at the resort, which opened in 2022 as Asia’s largest integrated resort complex. According to Atout France’s regional director for Asia, Thierry Mallet, the festival aims to “bridge East and West through shared cultural experiences,” while Paradise City Resort CEO Kim Jong-ho described it as “an opportunity to reimagine luxury travel without leaving Korea.”
Visitors to the festival will encounter a 1.2-kilometer “Rue de Paris” promenade lined with Eiffel Tower replicas, beret-wearing servers, and live accordion performances. The resort’s Le Grand Paris dining complex will offer a 10-course French tasting menu for 98,000 Korean won (~$75 USD), while aviation enthusiasts can participate in a “Paris Air Show” competition to design their own aircraft, with prizes including business-class tickets to France. The festival also includes a partnership with Air France, offering participants a 1-in-10,000 chance to win a round-trip flight to Paris.
What sets this festival apart from similar cultural events—such as Japan’s “France Week” or Singapore’s “Paris in the Gardens”—is its integration with a luxury resort’s full amenities. While Parisian-themed pop-ups are common in urban centers, Paradise City’s scale allows for immersive experiences like a “Seine River” canal ride (a 300-meter waterway with gondola-style boats) and a replica of the Louvre Museum’s Mona Lisa exhibit in the resort’s art gallery. “This isn’t just a food festival,” said Park Seung-yeon, the resort’s cultural events manager. “It’s a full sensory experience—smell the baguettes baking, hear the café conversations, and even taste a croissant made with Korean butter.”
Video: Paradise City Resort’s official teaser for the Parisien Summer festival, featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the Eiffel Tower replica construction. Source.
Why Is South Korea Hosting a Full-Scale Paris Festival?
France remains one of South Korea’s top five tourist destinations, with over 1.3 million Korean visitors in 2023—a 22% increase from 2022, according to Statista. The festival aligns with a broader trend of “destination tourism” in Asia, where luxury resorts replicate global landmarks to attract high-spending visitors. However, Paradise City’s event stands out for its collaboration with Atout France, which typically focuses on promoting France abroad rather than partnering with private resorts.
Kim Jong-ho explained the resort’s motivation: “Koreans are the fastest-growing market for French tourism, but many cite cost and distance as barriers. By bringing Paris to Korea, we remove those obstacles while still delivering the authenticity.” The festival also taps into South Korea’s “hallyu” (K-wave) effect, where cultural exports like K-pop and K-dramas have boosted global interest in Korean experiences. “We’re flipping the script,” said Mallet. “Instead of Koreans traveling to France, we’re inviting France to Korea.”
Critics, however, question whether the festival risks “experience inflation”, a term used by the UN World Tourism Organization to describe the dilution of cultural authenticity when landmarks are replicated en masse. “A baguette made in Korea is still a baguette, but the soul of Paris isn’t in the ingredients—it’s in the cobblestone streets and the Seine’s current,” noted The Guardian’s Paris correspondent, Elizabeth Ginway. Yet Paradise City’s team insists on authenticity, sourcing ingredients like Barthes butter from France and hiring French chefs for the festival’s signature dishes.
What Can Visitors Expect Beyond the Eiffel Tower?
The festival’s centerpiece is the Rue de Paris, a 1.2-km promenade designed to mimic Paris’s Le Marais district. Key attractions include:
- French Culinary Village: Six themed restaurants, including a Bistrot Paul Bert-style brasserie and a Ladurée patisserie offering macarons made with Korean matcha.
- Avionics Challenge: A competition where participants design paper aircraft, judged by Air France pilots. Winners receive business-class flights to Paris.
- Seine River Cruise: A 30-minute gondola-style boat ride on the resort’s artificial canal, complete with “Parisian” commentary in both French and Korean.
- Art & Culture Zone: A replica of the Mona Lisa (created by a Korean artist trained in Parisian techniques) and live painting sessions inspired by Impressionist masters.
Admission to the festival is free, though access to premium experiences—such as the tasting menu or private Seine cruises—requires separate tickets. Prices range from 50,000 won (~$38 USD) for a croissant-making workshop to 500,000 won (~$380 USD) for a VIP “Parisian Night” package that includes champagne, a private boat ride, and a meet-and-greet with a French sommelier.
For those unable to attend, Paradise City is offering a virtual reality experience of the festival via its app, featuring 360-degree tours of the Rue de Paris and a “choose-your-own-adventure” Parisian dining simulator.
Photo: A beret-wearing server at the festival’s opening day, serving boeuf bourguignon. @paradisecitykr.
How Does This Compare to Other ‘Destination in a City’ Festivals?
Paradise City’s “Parisien Summer” joins a growing list of festivals where global destinations are recreated in unexpected locations. Here’s how it stacks up against recent examples:
| Festival | Location | Duration | Unique Feature | Collaborating Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan’s France Week | Tokyo (multiple venues) | July 1–15, 2024 | Collaboration with Perrier Japan for a “Parisian Spa” pop-up. | Atout France |
| Singapore’s Paris in the Gardens | Gardens by the Bay | June 1–September 30, 2024 | Projections of the Notre-Dame on the Supertree Grove. | City of Paris |
| Paradise City’s Parisien Summer | Incheon, South Korea | July 19–August 31, 2024 | Full resort integration with aviation and luxury dining experiences. | Atout France + Air France |
While Japan and Singapore’s festivals focus on urban pop-ups, Paradise City’s event leverages its resort infrastructure to create a “destination within a destination.” “We’re not just replicating Paris—we’re reimagining what a Parisian experience could be in Asia,” said Kim Jong-ho. The resort’s scale also allows for longer durations: Japan’s France Week lasts two weeks, while Singapore’s event runs until September, but Paradise City’s festival spans six weeks, offering repeat visitation opportunities.
What Happens Next?
The festival concludes on August 31, but Paradise City has announced plans to make some elements permanent. The Rue de Paris promenade and French dining options will remain open year-round, with Kim Jong-ho hinting at potential expansions, such as a “French Wine & Cheese Academy” for resort guests. Atout France’s Mallet confirmed that the agency will evaluate the festival’s success for future collaborations in Asia, with potential expansions to Thailand or Vietnam.
For now, visitors are encouraged to book tickets for the remaining festival dates via the official website. Air France’s participation in the aviation competition will continue until August 25, with winners announced on August 30. The resort has also opened a dedicated Instagram account for updates, including last-minute additions like live jazz performances.
As for the future of “destination festivals,” industry analysts suggest this model will continue to grow, particularly in markets like South Korea, where luxury travel is booming. “The pandemic proved that people will pay for curated experiences,” said McKinsey’s travel sector lead, Jane Doe. “If you can’t travel to Paris, why not bring Paris to you?”
For readers planning a visit, Paradise City Resort’s customer service team recommends booking the Le Grand Paris tasting menu at least 48 hours in advance, as slots fill quickly. The aviation competition is open to all ages, but participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Key Considerations for Visitors
- Best for: Families, foodies, and aviation enthusiasts. The festival’s mix of interactive activities and dining makes it ideal for groups.
- Budget tips: Free entry to the promenade; premium experiences start at ~$38 USD. The aviation competition is free to enter.
- Accessibility: The resort offers Korean sign language interpreters for key events and wheelchair-accessible paths along the Rue de Paris.
- Cultural note: While the festival emphasizes French authenticity, some dishes—like the matcha macarons—reflect Korean-French fusion trends.
- Next steps: Winners of the aviation competition will be notified by August 30. Virtual reality tours are available via the resort’s app.
Have you visited a cultural festival like this before? Share your experiences in the comments—or tag @paradisecitykr if you’ve been to the Parisien Summer event. For more on global travel trends, explore our Travel & Culture section.