Until the 20th at Gwangju City Hall Plaza... Domestic and Foreign Visitors Flock
Mayor Kang: "Let's Enjoy the Infinite Transformations of Our Signature Brand Kimchi"
On the morning of the 18th, children are experiencing kimchi mixing at the 'Kimchi Experience School' of the 31st Gwangju Kimchi Festival, which opened at the lawn square of Gwangju City Hall. [Photo by Gwangju City]
The ‘Gwangju Kimchi Festival’ opened at the Gwangju City Hall Plaza. On the 18th, Gwangju City held the opening ceremony of the ‘31st Gwangju Kimchi Festival’ at the City Hall Plaza under the theme ‘Universe’s Brightest Kimchi Party.’ The festival will continue for three days until the 20th.
The opening ceremony was attended by Mayor Kang Gi-jung, Shin Su-jeong, Chairperson of the Gwangju City Council, Kim Chi-eun, President of the Korea Kimchi Association, Ahn Yu-seong, Master Chef of Korea, Park Su-jin, Chairperson of the Gwangju Kimchi Festival Committee, a delegation from Sendai City, Japan, and citizens. The kimchi fashion show, which showcased the evolution of kimchi-making fashion through the ages, provided a unique entertainment, and the participation of the Sendai City delegation added special significance.
Following this, the ‘Korea Kimchi Contest Awards Ceremony’ was held to promote the excellence of Gwangju kimchi and to inherit its cultural and functional traditions. In the cooking competition, Ms. Kim Ji-mi (Taebaek, Gangwon) won the Presidential Award with her ‘Immunity Baek Kimchi Embracing Mountain Codonopsis.’ The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Award went to Ms. Kim Myung-hee (Gangjin, Jeonnam) for ‘Tamjinman Water Kimchi,’ the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award to Ms. Choi Jeong-won (Jeonju, Jeonbuk) for ‘Bok Choy Kimchi,’ the Gwangju Mayor’s Award to Mr. Lee Maeng-du (Gumi, Gyeongbuk) for ‘Pear Kimchi,’ and Ms. Choi Eun-im (Gwangju) for ‘Soft Boiled Pufferfish Ring,’ among others.
The ‘Gwangju Kimchi Star Chef Food Show,’ which drew a flood of inquiries from visitors, was broadcast live on YouTube. Chefs Choi Hyun-seok and Yeo Kyung-rae, known from ‘Black and White Chefs,’ used Master Kim Hyo-sook’s ‘Dolsan Mustard Leaf Kimchi’ and Master Jang Kyung-ae’s ‘Large Shrimp Cabbage Kimchi’ to present ‘Mustard Leaf Kimchi Soy Sauce Crab Risotto’ and ‘Large Shrimp Kimchi Whole Shrimp Meat Stew,’ respectively.
At the ‘Table of a Thousand People,’ various dishes such as jar whole pork belly barbecue made using kimchi storage earthenware, kimchi cheese pork belly rolls, carrot kimchi tacos, barley young radish yukhoe bibimbap, and aged kimchi japchae were introduced, receiving enthusiastic responses from visitors. In addition, diverse programs such as ▲ Universe’s Brightest Kimchi Experience ▲ Kimjang Arcade ▲ Global Kimchi Lounge ▲ Gwangju Kimchi Pop-up Store ▲ Kimchi Sales Market are being held.
Mayor Kang Gi-jung of Gwangju said, “Gwangju kimchi is a representative brand. Under the theme of the Universe’s Brightest Kimchi Party, visitors can taste the kimchi of masters and also experience the infinite transformations of kimchi through food shows featuring ‘Black and White Chefs.’ We hope for active participation from citizens.”
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