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"Of all the countries I’ve visited, I’ve always preferred France." — Kang Jiwon, florist.
- Léa Baron
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
She thought she would stay for just a year. Ten years later, she runs her own flower shop in Paris’s 9th arrondissement. Kang Jiwon, 32, shares her expertise—blending French and Korean influences—with a diverse clientele. Through flowers, she has found both her language and her art.
At the entrance, a discreet sign displays the shop’s name: "kkot," the Korean word for flower. Inside, a large, minimalist wooden table holds an array of tall vases filled with blooming, elegant flowers. Shelves display traditional Korean objects and ceramics. Together, these elements create a charming sanctuary for Kang Jiwon’s work. Tucked away in the background, curled up on a cushion, lies Dolly—the owner’s dog—peacefully listening to our conversation.
Jiwon never imagined becoming a florist. Born in Seoul in 1994, she initially studied furniture design at university. However, as her studies drew to a close, a period of uncertainty set in. She felt a need to step back and change paths, while remaining within a creative field.
France, the favorite country
Her parents—an architect father and a stay-at-home mother—encouraged her to go abroad to reflect and explore before embarking on her professional career. She hesitated, briefly considering the United States, before ultimately choosing France.
"I traveled a lot with my parents and brother when I was a child," she explains. "Of all the countries I visited, I always preferred France. That feeling never changed as I grew up. So, I came here with the idea of having a new experience for just one year."
She arrived in Paris in 2016. Ten years later, she is still there.
Language: an obstacle
When she arrived, she didn’t speak a word of French. Language was her main obstacle, alongside the complexity of administrative procedures. Yet, she persevered. "It’s funny to say now, but I think I’ve become more accustomed to the French system," she says with a smile.
She had already taken a few flower-arranging workshops back in Korea. As a child who was often ill, she had turned to quiet activities, developing a taste for creative hobbies.
In France, she revisited the experience, spending time with florists and truly discovering a craft that quickly became her passion. "What fascinated me was the ability of flowers to convey emotions without words," she explains, finding a language there other than French.
Florist training
She then decided to pursue serious training. Over four years, she completed a CAP and then a BP (Professional Certificate) at the National School of Florists in Paris’s 19th arrondissement.
It was a demanding program, especially since it was conducted entirely in French. "It was incredibly hard," admits this tireless worker. When she didn't fully grasp the lessons, she would borrow her classmates' notes and study at night.
In 2024, she finally opened her own floral studio in Paris: KKOT.
Between two flower crops
Her creations stand out for their unique style, which sits at the intersection of two floral cultures. She blends French technical precision with a more minimalist Korean sensibility. "I love working with negative space, lightness, and varying heights," she explains.
While French tradition favors round, lush, rustic bouquets filled with foliage, she explores compositions that are airier, more understated, and graphic, highlighting large-headed flowers and sturdy stems.
"For me, it’s a form of art." "I compose my bouquets like a painting, selecting the colors and structure," she explains, even as she assembles a bouquet.
Transmission and creation
Her approach, blending two cultures, attracts a diverse clientele: "I primarily run workshops, while also creating bespoke bouquets, floral arrangements, and décor for various events." She also trains professional florists eager to discover her creative world. Her shop-studio thus becomes a place for sharing knowledge as well as for creation.
Her Instagram account, initially started as a simple personal journal, has gradually gained visibility. "It has become a key way to share my world, my work, and my story." She frequently posts about her visits to the Rungis flower market, where she goes three or four times a week—arriving right when it opens at 3:50 a.m. to be among the first inside.
France plays a significant role in her artistic evolution. She appreciates the place flowers hold in everyday life here: people give them without a specific reason, simply to bring joy. In Korea, they are often still associated with specific events.
When are flowers given in South Korea?
In South Korea, flowers generally mark important moments and are more closely linked to specific occasions than to spontaneous gestures of daily life.
Graduations: to congratulate students at commencement ceremonies.
Professional life: to celebrate a business opening, an achievement, or a promotion.
Romance: on Valentine’s Day, women traditionally give chocolates to men; on March 14—White Day—men reciprocate with gifts, often flowers.
Tributes: at funerals and memorial ceremonies.
Between France and Korea
"In France, I love the cultural diversity, the importance placed on art, and the freedom to build one’s own life, even when it doesn’t follow a traditional path. In Korea, there is a lot of competition and comparison," she acknowledges. Yet, while France gives her a sense of freedom, Korea remains deeply rooted within her.
"When you live in a country, you often notice its flaws above all else. But when you leave, you also realize everything it has given you," explains Jiwon. "Today, I am grateful to have grown up in Korea, because it is part of the person I have become."
Her family, initially worried about her moving so far away, is now her greatest source of support. They are delighted to see her thriving in a life she chose for herself.
I feel deeply at peace here.
What does she miss? Her loved ones, of course, and Korean cuisine—some dishes simply cannot be found in France. But here, she has found a balance that suits her perfectly.
"I had no particular connection to France, but I fell in love with its culture, its art, and its way of life." Today, Kang Jiwon looks back on her journey with satisfaction. "I feel deeply at peace here, and that is undoubtedly what made me want to build my life here."
