The soft power of 'jang'
Rich, deep flavor of fermented condiments offers taste of age-old Korean culture: Congdu CEO Han Yoon-joo
Hansik, or Korean cuisine, has been a powerful tool to foster strong international relations by offering a taste of Korean culture through its culinary riches, according to a pioneer of modern Korean fine dining.
Han Yoon-ju, CEO of Congdu, a modern hansik fine dining restaurant, underscored that food serves as a bridge between countries, and she builds such bridges by finding the common cultural ground between Korea and other countries. Han made the remark during a special lecture titled "The Power of Harmony, Hansik," organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute at the European Union ambassador's residence in Seoul, Tuesday.
"Whenever I organize events, I carefully select Korean dishes suited for diplomacy, pair them with complementary beverages, and ensure the food reflects Korea's culture," Han said.
Looking back on past events, Han said the dinner she prepared for the state banquet for US President Donald Trump and former President Moon Jae-in in Seoul in 2017 holds a special place in her heart.
"The Blue House (the former presidential office known as Cheong Wa Dae) called me 10 days before the event, and it was at a time when North Korea was launching missiles and tensions were rising. The Blue House sought to deliver a clear message through food: Help prevent a war," Han said.
To reaffirm bilateral relations and peace on the Korean Peninsula, Han served a dinner that included a Korean beef rib dish accompanied by a gravy made with 360-year-old soy sauce and grilled sole from Geoje Island -- Moon's hometown -- served with "donggukjang," or brown bean sauce. The soy sauce was made around 1657, the year Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father of the US, was born.
Jang -- a staple in South Korean cuisine -- refers to a family of fermented condiments, including soybean paste, soy sauce and red chile paste, to name a few.
"I wanted to use jang to promote Korean culture and be helpful diplomatically because jang harmonizes the ingredients and brings out the best taste of each dish," Han said.
"Jang has a rich, deep flavor that improves with time, enhancing the quality and taste of food. The longer the soy sauce is aged, the more its flavor deepens. This is what makes Korean cuisine different from other culinary cultures," she noted.
When asked what jang means to her, Han said it is the core of Korean cuisine.
"Jang is like the roots of a tree. Jang itself is not always visible in a dish, so it might not always be in the spotlight. However, it plays an important role in supporting and enriching the flavors in Korean food."
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