Natural Recreation Forest Management Office "Experience 'ASEAN Food Culture' in the Forest"

The Korea National Arboretum announced on the 17th that it will hold the '2024 ASEAN Food Culture Festival' at the National ASEAN Natural Recreation Forest located in Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, from the 19th to the 20th of this month.

The festival is expected to be attended by students from ASEAN and Central Asia. The ASEAN Natural Recreation Forest, where the festival will be held, was opened in 2015 to continuously promote forest cooperation and friendship with Asian countries, including member countries of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO). In line with this purpose, the ASEAN Natural Recreation Forest features facilities themed around traditional houses from the 10 ASEAN countries, such as Vietnam and the Philippines.

Last May, Asian international students posed playfully for a commemorative photo at the ASEAN Food Culture Festival. Photo by the Korea National Arboretum Management Office

In May of this year, the Korea National Arboretum invited 35 students from ASEAN and Central Asia, including the Philippines and Kazakhstan, to the ASEAN Natural Recreation Forest to hold the ASEAN Food Culture Festival.

The festival was operated with programs such as making Korean food and traditional dishes from various countries, experiencing traditional costumes, and learning K-POP dance, receiving positive responses from participants.

The event to be held this month is expected to be attended by 44 students from countries such as Indonesia, Myanmar, and Mongolia, providing an opportunity to experience and exchange traditional cultures from each country.

Kim Myung-jong, director of the Korea National Arboretum, said, “I hope the festival will serve as a venue to spread Korean traditional culture to ASEAN and Central Asian students and to exchange mutual cultures,” adding, “The Korea National Arboretum will continue to plan and promote forest recreation programs to enable ongoing exchange and communication through forests.”