New york: First lady Kim Hea Kyung has emphasized her dedication to promoting Korean cuisine globally during a gathering with prominent chefs and other food experts in New York. She expressed her delight in witnessing the increasing popularity of Korean food in the United States firsthand.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim met with these culinary figures during a roundtable at the Korean Cultural Center, highlighting the rising popularity of kimbap, a Korean seaweed rice roll. This dish gained attention after being featured in the Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters," as noted by vice presidential spokesperson Jeon Eun-soo. Kim was in New York to accompany President Lee Jae Myung at the U.N. General Assembly.
"Having looked around Koreatown in New York, I actually felt the popularity of Korean food. Ten years ago, bringing a lunch box of kimbap to a U.S. school was something to be mocked, but now, it's hugely popular," Kim commented. She pledged to consider the insights shared at the meeting and work towards promoting Korean food across the globe.
Kim, who authored a Korean food recipe book in 2018, emphasized that Korean cuisine represents more than just food; it is a cultural expression embodying the life and spirit of the Korean people. She also conveyed her appreciation to experts who help spread Korean food internationally.
The event's participants included Chef Hooni Kim of Danji, Chef Shin Chang-ho of Joo-Ok, Chef Shim Sung-chul of Kochi and Dondon Korean BBQ, and Chef Kim Ho-young of Jua. After the roundtable, Kim attended a cooking class at the Korea Society, where she taught children how to make kimbap, as reported by her office.
Continuing her cultural outreach, Kim held a meeting on Thursday with young Korean cultural and artistic figures based in New York at the Korea Cultural Center. Among the attendees were singer-songwriter and lawyer Lee So-eun, visual artist Yoon Da-in, and soprano Park Hye-sang, who performs at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.