Korean food culture boxes land at 3 more Korean Cultural Centers
Part of Korean cuisine promotion project, interactive display boxes now distributed to 15 Korean Cultural Centers in 13 countries
As part of South Korea's initiative to promote Korean cuisine, "hansik" in Korean, on the global culinary scene, display boxes created to promote traditional Korean cuisine have been sent to Korean Culture Centers in South Africa, Mexico and Shanghai, the Korea Craft and Design Foundation said Tuesday.
This brings the total to 15 Korean Cultural Centers in 13 countries that are part of the hansik promotion project.
Aiming to expand Korean food culture's reach to global audiences, the Culture Ministry and the KCDF launched the program in 2020 and have since distributed the Korean food culture boxes to Korean Cultural Centers in Paris, London, Stockholm, Osaka and Jakarta, to name a few.
The Korean food culture boxes serve a mini exhibition displays and come in two types.
The "Korean Feast" series is comprised of three themes ― a one-day feast, a royal feast and a noble family feast ― that cover both traditional and modern aspects of Korean cuisine. The idea was inspired by the royal banquets of the Joseon era (1392–1910), highlighting how people's lives and philosophies are reflected in their food culture.
The royal feast theme presents Korean food items inspired by the traditional motifs of the "Irworobongdo," a folding screen with a landscape of a sun, a moon and five peaks that was placed behind the Joseon king's royal throne, and hanbok, or traditional Korean attire.
The one-day box lets people experience Korean dining customs through a typical meal. The noble family-themed food box showcases traditional Korean items emphasizing cultural symbols and celebrating Korean dining traditions and customs.
The boxes, called "Hansik Dorak," provide an engaging experience by sharing facts about Korean cuisine through short videos and popular games.
Meanwhile, the KCDF plans to broaden the distribution of the food culture boxes, making them available to overseas institutions that run programs related to Korean culture or Korean cuisine. Institutions can apply to receive a food culture box between March 17 and April 4. More information is available on the KCDF's official website.
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