.png)
"I feel more at ease in Brittany than in Korea," Yves Yoon, comic book artist and author.
Arriving in France at the age of 19, comic strip author Yves Yoon has lived in Brittany for more than ten years. Between cultural shock, questions of identity and artistic creation, she recounts her journey as a Korean in France, from her studies at the Beaux-Arts to the publication of Bibimbap ou jambon-beurre?, and today of her latest comic book My k-food recipes. Hansori met her at the Paris Book Fair in April 2026.
Written by Léa Baron on September 14, 2026
A big smile, plenty of energy, a dash of humor, a spoonful of sincerity, and a great deal of humility. That might well be the recipe Yves Yoon—whose real name is Hyunji Yoon—uses to put people at ease during interviews. These traits are also reflected in the characters of her two French-language graphic novels: Bibimbap ou jambon-beurre ? (2025) and Mes recettes k-food (Éditions Larousse, September 16).
Her pen name, "Yves Yoon," encapsulates this journey in itself. Born "Yoon" in Korea, she discovered upon arriving in France that the name also exists in Breton as "Yves." "I live in Brittany, so I thought it would be interesting to combine the two," she explains. She adopted the name in 2022 when she returned to France, unaware that "Yves" is perceived as a masculine name. "In the end, I like it: it creates a bridge between Korea and France."
From Korea to France: an artistic journey
Originally from Bucheon, near Seoul, Yves Yoon has been drawing since childhood. She attended an arts high school in Korea, specializing in animation and comics. Her path took a turn at age 17: following her father's death, she felt a need to express something deeper.
A friend introduced her to the French fine arts system, which allows students to explore various mediums. Drawn by this freedom and France’s artistic renown, she decided to leave.
"It wasn't a childhood dream, but rather an opportunity."
Studying there was also less expensive than in Korea—a crucial factor as her family was going through a difficult time after her father's death. In 2014, after learning French for only six months, she settled in Quimper.
Living in France: culture shock and isolation
Her arrival was marked by a stark contrast. The city seemed "super cute, like a movie set," yet the language proved to be a major obstacle.
"Not being able to communicate in French, even for simple things, was a real handicap."
She also felt acutely aware of being different, as the only foreign student: "too visible because of my appearance, my accent..." Naturally reserved, she struggled to reach out to others. "Even though I was shy in Korea, I wasn't antisocial." »
Her integration was facilitated by her French friends, who helped her break out of her isolation. "It was thanks to them that I opened up. That saved me; otherwise, I would have left sooner."
More at ease in Brittany than in Korea
After five years of study, she returned to Korea due to a lack of job opportunities, only to find herself stranded there during the pandemic. "I realized the difference in pace between France and Korea, where people do nothing but work."
This period gave rise to regrets: "I felt like I hadn't truly made the most of my years in France. It was like a long dream that I had completely forgotten."
She returned in late 2022 to "make up for" that experience. Since then, she has continued to live in Quimper, which she considers her second home: "Today, I feel more at ease in Brittany than in Korea, where I go back for two weeks a year to see my mother, sister, and friends. I’m happy to see them, of course, but I feel out of sync there," she confides. "It makes me sad because it’s my native country."
"I feel like I belong nowhere."
After nearly ten years in France, Yves Yoon is planning a road trip across the country for next year to venture beyond Brittany. "I’d like to discover other landscapes," she explains. This project could become a new graphic novel, extending her exploration of identity and interculturality.
Bibimbap or Ham-and-Butter Sandwich?
She recounted this life straddling two cultures with humor and nuance in her first graphic novel, published in 2025: Bibimbap ou jambon-beurre ? (Larousse). In the book, Yves Yoon explores cultural differences between France and Korea—covering topics such as work, romantic and family relationships, fashion, racism, and even everyday gestures like sneezing.
After nearly ten years in France, Yves Yoon is planning a road trip across the country for next year to venture beyond Brittany. "I’d like to discover other landscapes," she explains. This project could become a new graphic novel, extending her exploration of identity and interculturality.
It is also a way to better understand her native country and her own journey of adapting to life in France. "Back in 2014, people didn't know much about Korea. Today, there is more interest in it, so this was an opportunity to share those cultural differences."
My K-Food Recipes
In her new graphic novel Mes recettes k-food (Larousse), published on September 16, 2026, she shares her Korean heritage through cuisine. She presents recipes that defined her childhood—such as birthday soup (*miyeok-guk*), New Year’s soup (*tteokguk*), and dishes for the morning after a night of heavy drinking.
"What I love most is my mother’s cooking," she says affectionately. In her drawings, she is often shown calling her mother to get recipes.
She also recalls dishes from her late father, such as *ganjang gyeran bap*—rice topped with a fried egg.
Tender, funny and informative at the same time, the album combines recipes, stories and both cultural and personal meanings of the dishes.
She describes Korean cuisine as a cuisine of balance, structured around *banchan* (small side dishes) and a harmony of colors and flavors.
Lacking certain ingredients in Quimper, she now adapts her cooking: "I try to blend Korean cuisine with French habits." And she couldn't be happier about it.
Korean society: between capitalism and "jeong"
While working at the King Sejong Institute in Quimper—which opened in 2020 and offers language and culture classes—she is rediscovering her country with a sense of perspective and maturity. She describes Korea as a place defined by the "pali-pali" (hurry, hurry) mentality—efficient, practical, and deeply capitalist—yet also profoundly shaped by social bonds.
Yves Yoon discusses the concept of "jeong"—a form of attachment, empathy, and human warmth that is difficult to translate.
"Korea is a country of contradictions: both modern and traditional," she explains. "It is a place where superficiality exists, yet community and family remain vitally important."
These tensions stem from its history—including the Korean War, Japanese colonization, and the rapid economic development of the 1970s—which have shaped a society that is simultaneously demanding and deeply communal.
It is a country and a culture that Yves Yoon strives to share and foster an understanding of through her graphic novels.
