59th Star Chefs to Be Featured in Popular Television Show
By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff Reporter
Following a string of contests and exhibitions, the promotion of Korean food, or ``hansik,'' is constantly finding new channels. This time, young and promising hansik chefs will be featured on a popular local television show in an attempt to better publicize the national cuisine.
Episodes of MBC's signature weekly show, ``Infinite Challenge'' (Muhan Dojeon), will be broadcast over the next two weeks with the theme of food globalization, the Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp. (aT) said Friday.
As part of the government's project to foster star Korean chefs, the appearance of hansik cooks in popular media will help promote them as a role models for young people and contribute to the expansion of Korean food culture, aT said in a statement.
Popular TV host Yoo Jae-suk and his crew from the hit show reportedly flew to New York earlier this week for the project.
In the Big Apple, the cast members divided into two groups ― ``authentic'' and ``fusion'' ― with the mission of creating their own dishes with kimchi to better appeal to the tastes of Americans. The creations will be passed out on the streets and judged by the locals of the city.
Two rising Korean chefs will be supporting each team. The cooks, Yang Ji-hoon and Myung Hyun-ji, will direct the cooking throughout the project, both at home and in the United States.
Yang, known for his French dishes with Korean twists, currently runs a restaurant in Seoul and Myung is the coordinator of the South Korean delegation of chefs.
The first episode, scheduled to air Nov. 7, will feature cast members learning to cook Korean dishes with the mission of creating the ``most Korean'' hansik dish.
Cartoonist Heo Young-man, author of a mega-hit food-themed series ``Sikgaek,'' which means eating guest, and Yoon Sook-ja, an expert on traditional Korean food, will advise the cast members during the domestic part.
Since first airing in 2005, Infinite Challenge has enjoyed being the most popular free-to-air television show on Saturday evening. It is one of the most viewed non-drama programs in Korea.