South Korea Hansik Master Cradle Hwasun-gun Produces 2 More This Year

Son Young-ja, Head of Fermentation Research Association, and Yeom Hwa-yoon, Member of Hwasun Local Food Research Association, Selected

Two individuals from Hwasun region were selected as ‘Korea Hansik Masters’.

According to Hwasun-gun on the 4th, Son Young-ja, president of the Fermentation Research Association, and Yeom Hwa-yoon, a member of the Hwasun Local Food Research Association, were selected as ‘Korea Hansik Masters’ at the ‘2024 Korea Hansik Masters and Experts Discovery and Selection Forum Seminar’ hosted by the Korea Hansik Forum.

The Korea Hansik Masters and Experts Selection Project is a program to discover Hansik masters and experts who possess unique skills and techniques in various Hansik fields to promote the development and revitalization of Hansik culture.

The event was held on the 27th of last month at the National Assembly Library Auditorium.

Hansik masters are carefully selected among those with over 20 years of experience who have contributed to the development of Hansik culture, based on their expertise, contribution, and activity in each food field.

Son Young-ja, who was selected as a Korea Hansik Master in the traditional and local food category, is the owner of Hwasun Yangchamsa House, a traditional Korean hanok, and the president of the Fermentation Food Research Association. She has taken the lead in promoting local foods by participating in various food competitions and exhibitions to discover, preserve, and inherit Hwasun’s local and fermented food resources.

Another Hansik master, Yeom Hwa-yoon, is active in the Hwasun Local Food Research Association. She has been recognized for various achievements, including winning grand prizes in medicinal food and traditional food categories at numerous food competitions.

President Son Young-ja said, “I want to promote the beauty and culture of Korea through local foods that preserve the unique regional flavors,” adding, “I will work harder to allow more people to taste Korean traditional food by adapting the family recipes that have been passed down for a long time at Hwasun Yangchamsa House to modern tastes.”

An official from the Agricultural Technology Center stated, “Following last year, producing Korea Hansik Masters again this year has boosted the pride of our members,” and added, “We will actively support activities to strengthen the capabilities of our members.”

The Rural Resources Food Research Association consists of three fields (local food, fermentation, and Namdo medicinal food) and is an organization fostered to cultivate experts in each field. Through monthly self-study activities, it is dedicated to researching and developing foods using local agricultural products.

Meanwhile, in Hwasun-gun, following the masters Kim Young-ran (Hwasun Local Food Research Association) and Song Jeong-hee (Fermentation Research Association) in 2019, Jeong Hyo-hwa (Fermentation Research Association) in 2020, Park Young-sim (Hwasun Local Food Research Association) in 2021, Lim Young-sook (Hwasun Local Food Research Association) in 2022, Kim Soon-rye (Hwasun Local Food Research Association) as a master in 2023, and Kim Young-ran (Hwasun Local Food Research Association) as an expert in 2023, two Korea Hansik Masters have been nurtured.