I am covering trend, food and fashion. Previously, I covered diplomacy, city, environment and unification.
Fried kimchi, Hwangnam bread: Korean food that won APEC delegates' hearts
A bowl of fried kimchi / gettyimagesbank
By Kim Se-jeong
Korea’s gastro-diplomacy was in full swing during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, last week.
The Korean government mobilized all available resources to please heads of states and delegates from Asia, the Americas and beyond. The official gala dinner on Friday evening drew much public and media attention, as Korean American star chef Edward Lee took charge of the menu.
Yet, beyond the gala, several other Korean dishes — from time-honored classics to simple baked goods — impressed visitors with their taste and presentation.
Fried kimchi
Fried kimchi — a stir-fried version of Korea’s signature fermented cabbage — appealed to Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, and members of the United Arab Emirates legation.
Their fondness was so great that they asked to take some home and the host hotel — Ananti Cove in Busan — presented the delegation with vacuum-packed bottles of fried kimchi as a gift.
According to Korean reports, some delegates even asked a hotel employee for the recipe. The staff member reportedly gave a witty reply: “A lot of heart.”
A box of Hwangnam-ppang, a popular red bean-filled pastry from Gyeongju, that Chinese President Xi Jinping received during the APEC summit. Yonhap
Hwangnam-ppang
The red bean-filled traditional pastry from Gyeongju, Hwangnam-ppang, also captured attention — especially among Chinese delegates. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his gratitude to President Lee Jae Myung for the 200 boxes of freshly baked Hwangnam-ppang offered as a welcome gift during their meeting.
Xi said that he had enjoyed the treat and his remark sent demand for the dessert soaring — to the point where local bakeries reportedly struggled to keep up with the surge in orders.
Hwangnam-ppang was served as the official dessert for the summit. Speaking to CNN about the APEC meeting, Lee described the pastry as one of Korea's “comfort foods.”
A bowl of Someori gomtang / Captured from Instagram
Someori gomtang
Someori gomtang, or beef head soup, turned out to be the favorite of Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee. On Sunday, a day after the APEC summit ended, Lee was spotted at Jungang Market, a traditional market in Gyeongju.
According to local reports, he praised the Korean soup after tasting it. “The soup has a rich, delicious flavor,” he was quoted as saying. “Its aroma and color remind me of what I used to have in my hometown.”
Hodu gwaja, walnut-shaped cakes filled with red bean paste / Korea Times file
Other Korean dishes also made a strong impression on visitors.
Hodu gwaja, a walnut-shaped cake filled with red bean paste and walnut, was among them, loved for its sweet flavor and soft yet crispy texture. The cakes, a familiar treat for Koreans, were served at major meeting tables, with some delegates even sharing photos of them on social media.
Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, also reportedly enjoyed Samgyetang, or ginseng chicken soup, prepared with halal-certified chicken at Park Hyatt Busan where he and his delegation stayed.
On the business side, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang gave an unexpected publicity boost to chimaek, short for Korean-style fried chicken and beer. On Thursday, Huang dined at Kkanbu Chicken, a Korean fried chicken franchise, alongside Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, exchanging glasses of somaek, a Korean soju and beer cocktail.