First Lady Kim and Chef Lim Taehoon Collaborate on Birthday Meal for Young Adults Preparing for Independence: "I Wanted to Share a Warm Meal Together"

Preparing Seaweed Soup and Japchae Together at 'Ieum', a Korean Food Culture Space
First Lady Kim: "We Must Carefully Ensure No One Is Isolated"
Chef Lim Shares His Spicy Chinese-Style Japchae Recipe

On January 15, First Lady Kim Hye-kyung spent time preparing a birthday meal with young adults preparing for independence at the Korean food culture space 'Ieum' in Jongno-gu, Seoul, making dishes such as seaweed soup and japchae, according to Deputy Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong of the Presidential Office.

Yonhap News Agency

The young adults who participated in the event are those who have left child welfare facilities and are taking their first steps into society. First Lady Kim said, "I have heard that birthdays and holidays after becoming independent can feel especially lonely, so I really wanted to share a warm meal together," expressing her greetings.

Chef Lim Tae-hoon, known as the "Delivery Box Chef" who gained popularity through the Netflix variety show "Black & White Chef," also joined the event. Chef Lim shared, "I once lived in an orphanage myself. I have a strong desire to provide even a little support to friends with similar stories," explaining his reason for participating.

First Lady Kim and Chef Lim made seaweed soup and japchae, the foods most associated with birthdays. As First Lady Kim stir-fried meat and seaweed in sesame oil and remarked, "It seems like there is a bit too much meat," the young adults responded with excitement, saying, "We actually like it more this way," and "It smells delicious."

While the seaweed soup was simmering, Chef Lim demonstrated the recipe for a spicy Chinese-style japchae, different from the traditional Korean version. As Chef Lim skillfully sliced carrots, zucchini, onions, and bell peppers, the young adults expressed their admiration. First Lady Kim kindly explained how to prepare wood ear mushrooms and cooked together with them.

The young adults then, though inexperienced, earnestly tried making japchae themselves, with First Lady Kim and Chef Lim observing nearby. When one of the young adults finished making japchae and asked First Lady Kim to "judge" the flavor rather than just taste it, she laughed heartily and replied, "It's so delicious."

After finishing the cooking, First Lady Kim, Chef Lim, and the young adults shared the birthday meal they had prepared, tasted the food, and exchanged their thoughts. During the meal, various comments were shared, such as, "This is a seaweed soup I want to eat often, not just on my birthday," and "I usually don't eat green onions, but the japchae seasoning is so good that I ate everything."

Yonhap News Agency

The young adults also candidly shared the concerns and difficulties they face during the process of becoming independent. One young adult said, "Many young people preparing for independence lack people around them to help, so they often don't know how to manage their finances. There are quite a few cases where the settlement support funds are spent all at once or depleted in a short period." Another young adult agreed, adding, "After leaving the facility, some have even fallen victim to scams, so systematic financial education and asset management training are needed." Yet another young adult expressed, "Young people preparing for independence tend to think of their dreams and futures in a limited way. I wish we could experience a variety of professions starting from our teenage years."

In response, First Lady Kim said, "Chef Lim could become a role model." Chef Lim then shared his childhood experiences, saying, "I understand the process of becoming independent better than anyone, so I am always thinking about how I can help," and offered words of encouragement and support to the young adults. First Lady Kim added, "I hope we can consider together what our society needs to do to ensure that independence does not become isolation, where one must bear everything alone. I promise to continue supporting efforts to create a society where young adults preparing for independence can move forward with hope and confidence, rather than fear."