By Lee Hyo-won
Staff reporter
Pianist Paik Kun-woo was awarded the 11th Prix Culturel France-Coree Friday in Paris, alongside two other French recipients.
The award, founded in 1999, recognizes cultural figures and institutions of Korea and France that have contributed to promoting Korean culture abroad. Paik and the two other awardees, French publishing company Philippe Picquier and Francis Macouin, head of the Musee Guimet library in Paris, accepted the honor at the Korean embassy in Paris.
Paik, a renowned pianist, has been the only Korean to work as a musical director at France's Dinard Music Festival since 1994. Last season he was featured in the 20th anniversary concert of the festival and has appeared with top ensembles including the Orchestre de Paris and the Monte Carlo Philharmonic.
The publishing company Phillip Picquier is credited with having published some 40 works of Korean literature in France.
Macouin was recognized for showing great interest in Korean architecture and has published books on Korean pavilions and the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).