The year 2006 is an important one for France and Korea as it marks the 120th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Over the years, the bilateral relationship has witnessed significant developments in every fields including politics, economy, and social and cultural affairs. Moreover, since the 1993 decision to introduce the French High-Speed Train (TGV) to Korea, it might be said that French-Korean relations have entered into a period of “high speed cooperation.” Against this amical background, there remains an important unresolved issue between the two countries: the restoration of the Oe-kyujanggak (Royal Library Branch) manuscripts stored at the Bibliotheque Nationale de France. In 1886, Admiral Roze of the French Far East Navy, then based in China, invaded Kanghwa Island near Seoul, in retaliation for the persecution of Catholic missionaries of French nationality by the Korean Government and pillaged 340 volumes of Chosun royal protocols (rare official documents of the Chosun dynasty). In 1991, the issue of their restoration was raised by Seoul National University and has since become an important diplomatic issue between France and Korea. Because of the distinct difference in opinion between the two countries, it was believed that a solution for the restoration was not possible in the near future. According to the French argument, the Korean manuscripts have already become French cultural assets after more than a century of French possession and, according to French law, cultural assets are inalienable. Releasing them, therefore, would require special legislation. However, according to the Korean argument, because the Korean manuscripts were stolen forcefully by the French army, they could not become the object of acquisitive prescription permitted by international law; because the manuscripts are in a state of unlawful occupation, they should therefore be justly returned to the original possessor, which is Korea. In the meantime, during his state visit to Korea in 1993, President Francois Mitterand agreed with President KIM Young-sam to solve this problem through the principle of exchange and loan. At first sight, it looked like the problem would be solved without much difficulty. But, with different views on how to realize the exchange and loan principle, the two sides could not reach a final solution despite numerous negotiations between specialists and governments officials of France and Korea. It would be a significant milestone if the two countries find a way to resolve this problem by applying the principle of 1993, as agreed by the Presidents of the two countries. An equitable solution would contribute to the strengthening of bilateral relationship into the Global Partnership for the 21st Century, declared by President Jacques Chirac and President ROH Moo-hyun during their 2004 summit.
L’an 2006 est une annee importante dans les relations francocoreennes etant donne qu’elle est le 120eme anniversaire des relations diplomatiques entre la France et la Coree. Au cours de plus d’un siecle, les relations entre les deux pays se sont beaucoup developpees dans tous les domaines: politique, economique, social, culturel, etc. De plus, par le biais de l’introduction du TGV francais en Coree, decidee en 1993, les relations entre les deux pays sont entrees dans une periode de cooperation a grande vitesse. Malgre cette bonne ambiance, nous pouvons pointer la restitution des manuscrits coreens conserves a la BNF comme un sujet epineux qui pourrait etre un obstacle dans le developpement des relations franco-coreennes a l’avenir. En 1866, le Contre-Amiral Roze a fait une expedition en Coree contre la persecution des missionnaires catholiques d’origine francaise. Il debarqua dans l’ile de Kanghwa, a proximite de Seoul, et ordonna le pillage de 340 volumes des manuscrits coreens gardes dans la bibliotheque royale, Oe-Kyujanggak. En 1991, la restitution des manuscrits coreens a ete reclamee par l’Universite Nationale de Seoul et ceci est devenue un sujet important dans la diplomatie franco-coreenne. La possibilite de la restitution des manuscrits coreens est peu probable a cause de deux points de vue distinctement differents entre la France et la Coree. Selon l’opinion francaise, apres plus d’un siecle passe, les manuscrits coreens font desormais partie du patrimoine culturel de la France et, selon la loi francaise, les collections publiques sont inalienables, seule une nouvelle loi pouvant modifier ce statut. Par contre, selon la revendication coreenne, etant donne que les manuscrits coreens ont ete pilles de force par l’armee francaise, ils ne font pas l’objet de la prescription extinctive dans le droit international et, etant donne qu’ils sont en etat de possession illegale, il est tres juste de les restituer au pays d’origine, la Coree. Au cours de debats acharnes, lors de sa visite d’Etat en Coree en 1993, le President Mitterrand s’est mis d’accord avec son homologue coreen, le President KIM Young-sam, pour regler la question des manuscrits coreens a la BNF par le principe d’un echange et d’un pret de longue duree. A premiere vue, il nous semblait que ce probleme serait resolu sans beaucoup de difficultes; mais, a cause des points de vue differents concernant la modalite d’echange et de pret, etc., il n’est pas encore regle malgre plus de 10 ans de negociation entre les deux pays. La restitution des manuscrits coreens, selon le principe decide d’un commun accord lors du sommet de 1993, sera un evenement historique pour renforcer le partenariat global pour le XXIeme siecle, etabli en 2005 entre le President Jacques Chirac et le President ROH Moo-hyun.