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By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff Reporter
A private organization was launched Wednesday with the aim of promoting the nation's traditional and modern cuisine ― hansik.
The Hansik Foundation will be in charge of all activities to promote Korean food overseas, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said.
With a capital of 700 million won (about $620,000), the foundation will promote Korean cuisine on behalf of the government.
Food Minister Chang Tae-pyong and Culture Minister Yu In-chon attended the opening ceremony at the headquarters of the Korea Agro-Fishery Trade Corporation, Seoul.
The agency has three main goals ― setting up new standards for hansik's authenticity, industrialization of hansik and its globalization.
It will carry out 10 missions, including certifying overseas Korean restaurants and overseas promotions of the cuisine, as well as reviving original forms of various indigenous dishes.
Starting this year, it will issue certifications for foreign-based Korean restaurants and educate Korean chefs.
It plans to build a global hansik network worldwide.
Former Food and Agriculture Minister Chung Un-chun is heading the foundation.
Chung said the global trend is moving toward slow food from fast food.
Kimchi, doenjang (bean paste) and gochujang (chili paste) will gain popularity in due course, he predicted.
``Once homegrown cuisine is labeled as healthy food, it will be globally enjoyed in its original form, without having to localize themselves to better appeal to foreigners,'' Chung said.
``But tastes are not something that can be changed immediately, so we need to globalize hanshik.''