Korea Tourism Organization Holds Departure Ceremony for K-Local Gourmet Travel 33 Selections Expedition Team "Determined to Try"

The Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 24th that it held the departure ceremony for the K-Local Gourmet Travel 33 Selections Expedition Team, "Determined to Try," at Pyeongyangok in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd, kicking off efforts to promote gourmet travel in Korea.

The 33 Selections Expedition Team includes ten influencers, such as celebrity chef Fabrizio, an Italian chef known for appearances on shows like "Black and White Chef" and "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator"; YouTuber Joshua Kirby, who has 3.26 million followers; and Cookim (Kim Joungho), who has promoted K-Food worldwide through content featuring Korean cuisine. From October to November, they will produce content showcasing the 33 representative ingredients and dishes from various regions, leading the promotion of gourmet travel.

Departure ceremony of the K-Local Gourmet Travel 33 Selections Expedition Team 'Determined to Try Eating' held on the 23rd at Pyeongyangok in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
Photo by Korea Tourism Organization

Joshua Kirby and two other foreign YouTubers living in Korea plan to boost interest in Korean gourmet travel through content titled "K-Pop Demon Hunters vs. K-Local Food," which compares the globally popular "K-Pop Demon Hunters" with "K-Local Food."

Chef Fabrizio will participate in the Andong gourmet travel event. He will join a one-day trip to taste Andong Jjimdak and Andong Soju, which are listed among the 33 Selections, and visit local attractions. Participants for the Andong gourmet trip will be selected through a drawing from those who submit a review of the 33 Selections guidebook, which is available on "Every Corner of Korea." Applications can be submitted on the "Traveling Autumn" website until October 12.

Joo Sanggun, head of the Tourism Industry Strategy Team at the Korea Tourism Organization, stated, "Through the 'Determined to Try' expedition team, we aim to promote the 'K-Local Gourmet Travel 33 Selections' not only to Koreans but also to foreigners, raising awareness and appeal of gourmet travel in Korea."

The 33 Selections is a food tourism content project developed last year by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization to promote ingredients and dishes that reflect the unique characteristics of different regions in Korea. This year, the Korea Tourism Organization is collaborating with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Agency for Traditional Market Administration, which certify Centennial Stores (Centennial Small Business Owners), to produce the "33 Selections × Centennial Stores Gourmet Travel Map."