Best in Hanbang Cuisine?... World Hanbang Cuisine Festa Held

Seoul Yakryeongsi 2023 World Korean Medicine Cuisine Festa Held

On the 10th, Korean medicine cuisine competition held at Seoul Yakryeongsi Korean Medicine Street... Unique Korean medicine dishes satisfy all five senses

‘North Korean Medicinal Food’ Exhibition, North Korean Food Tasting Experience, and Pansori, B-boying, Trot Performances

Dongdaemun-gu (District Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) and the Seoul Yakryeongsi Association (President Kim Wol-jin) jointly hosted the ‘2023 World Korean Medicine Cuisine Festa’ on the 10th at the Seoul Korean Medicine Promotion Center in Jegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, and the surrounding Seoul Yakryeongsi Korean Medicine Street area.

The event consisted of ▲World Korean Medicine Cuisine Competition ▲Exhibition and experience of Korean medicine food based on 'Sikryochanyo' under the theme of Korean Medicine Taste (韓方懿味) ▲Celebratory performances.

At the main event of the festival, the ‘World Korean Medicine Cuisine Competition,’ a total of 94 teams with 356 participants from all over the country applied. After passing a fierce preliminary round, 50 teams showcased various unique and fresh Korean medicine dishes (no distinction between Korean, Chinese, Japanese, or Western cuisine) created using Korean medicine ingredients and medicinally valuable materials purchased from Seoul Yakryeongsi.

The competition was divided into categories: ▲Master Korean Medicine Cuisine ▲General ▲North Korean Defectors ▲University Students ▲Elementary, Middle, and High School Students. Winning teams in each category received certificates and prizes, including awards from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Ministry of Unification.

Alongside the competition, on the 3rd floor of the Seoul Korean Medicine Promotion Center, a ‘Korean Medicine Medicinal Cuisine Experience Exhibition’ based on 'Sikryochanyo,' compiled in 1460 (the 4th year of King Sejo’s reign), was held.

This experience exhibition, themed ‘Korean Medicine Taste (韓方懿味),’ offered visitors the opportunity to view and taste Korean medicine medicinal cuisine from the Joseon Dynasty.

In particular, ten masters including professors of culinary arts and cooking experts reinterpreted dishes from the North Korean cookbook 'Joseon Bukhan Ryori Jeonjip' as ‘Regional North Korean Medicinal Cuisine’ based on 'Sikryochanyo' and exhibited them.

Additionally, an exhibition and tasting event of North Korean food such as Pyongyang cold noodles and dumplings, organized by North Korean defector groups, were held simultaneously.

At the central stage of Korean Medicine Street, the ‘Yakseongga’ (Medicinal Song) from the Pansori Sugungga, which contains explanations of Korean medicinal herbs, was performed by Kim Sun-i, a master of Pansori intangible cultural heritage from Gwangju Metropolitan City.

Following this, performances by B-boying, girls’ hip-hop, and trot singers energized the visitors.

An event official said, “We hope that the various Korean medicine dishes presented at the festival will serve as an opportunity to explore ways to utilize Korean medicine and medicinal herbs and increase interest among younger generations.”