France never officially controlled Korea, but had an early presence on the peninsula through French missionaries who played a significant role in modernizing the country. In 1886, France signed a treaty with Korea that granted French citizens extraterritorial rights and allowed them to conduct business in the country, but did not give France any control over Korea's internal affairs or territory. During World War II, France was occupied by Nazi Germany and had limited influence in Asia, including Korea. After Japan's defeat in WWII, the Korean peninsula was divided into two zones of occupation - one controlled by the Soviet Union and the other by the United States - but France was not involved in the division or subsequent control of either zone. However, France established diplomatic relations with both North and South Korea in the 1960s and has had strong economic ties with South Korea since the 1970s. French culture has also had a significant impact on Korea, particularly in fashion, cuisine, and art. Conversely, Korean culture