Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
4 Korean restaurants enter Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list
Mingles chef Kang Min-goo, second from right, poses after his restaurant was announced to rank the 13th spot, highest among Korean restaurants this year, on the Asia’s top 50 restaurants list during the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants' awards ceremony held at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam District, Tuesday. Courtesy of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants
By Park Jin-hai
Tokyo's Sezanne tops ranking at first award ceremony in Seoul
Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony, an international gastronomic event celebrating culinary establishments across the continent, took place in Seoul on Tuesday, with four restaurants from the host country earning coveted spots on the prestigious list.
With some 800 people gathered to culminate the five-day event, this years' crown went to Tokyo's Sézanne. The restaurant, helmed by chef Daniel Calvert, presenting neo-French cuisine, was recognized for its classic touch, incorporating the finest local Japanese ingredients with expert precision.
Reflecting on Seoul's rising status in the culinary world, four Korean establishments secured spots on the top 50 list. Leading the charge was Mingles, a Korean contemporary restaurant at No. 13, jumping up from the 28th last year. The restaurant, led by chef Kang Min-goo, reinterprets Korean classics with a focus on using a trio of homemade "jang" (fermented paste) — "ganjang" (soy sauce), "doenjang" (soybean paste) and "gochujang" (chili pepper paste).
Contemporary Korean restaurant 7th Door followed at No. 18. Its chef Kim Dae-chun's vast repertoire of different culinary practices stem from the Korean fermentation and aging techniques. Also recognized are Onjium, No. 21, a fine dining restaurant specializing in traditional Korean cuisine, and Mosu, No. 41, a restaurant famous for its innovative take on Korean cuisine. Mosu's chef Sung Anh, also known as Anh Sung-jae, won the peer-voted Inedit Damm Chefs' Choice Award.
At the award ceremony, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon thanked all participants.
"Thank you for coming with spring rain and lovely flowers. You brought real spring with you," Oh said at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas hotel, the event's venue in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, Tuesday.
"Seoul has various kinds of delicious and healthy food, including Korean barbecue and various kinds of fermented food … Please enjoy wonderful experiences in Seoul."
Song Mi-ryung, Korea's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, also present at the ceremony, said, "Korean food can be enjoyed in various types of dishes from seafood to royal cuisine. I hope you all have an opportunity to fully enjoy Korean food tonight and make precious memories."
Participants pose for a group photo during the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants' awards ceremony held at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in southern Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants
The 50 Best is one of the world's distinguished rating guides for culinary establishments, and Asia's 50 Best Restaurants is a regional version. The result is based on the votes of over 300 experts in the restaurant industry in Asia, including food critics, chefs and restaurateurs.
Meanwhile, five Korean restaurants were featured among the top 51–100 restaurants this year. They are Eatanic Garden at No. 62, BORN&BRED at No. 64, Solbam at No. 65, Kwonsooksoo at No. 89 and Alla Prima at No. 91. The latter three restaurants newly entered the ranking, while Joo Ok, placed at No. 51 last year, lost its place on the list as the restaurant closed in December and is set to relocate to Manhattan next month.
In all, a total of nine Korean restaurants came within Asia's top 100 best restaurants, up from seven last year.