KF releases Korean food app

The Korean Foundation has released an application for smartphones to introduce Korean food in time for the national thanksgiving holiday, Chuseok, which falls on Sept. 8.

Provided in English and Spanish, the “Korean Food Guide 800” app includes information on various Korean dishes, each categorized by its main ingredient and cooking method.

Ingredients include grains, beans, vegetables, special meat cuts and even traditional medicinal herbs.

Instructions on how to make kimchi, stir-fried dishes and various stews are also easily found on the app.

Romanized spelling for each dish is provided, along with an audio function to help users pronounce the food names properly in Korean.

The application includes further explanations on Korean traditional food, providing background information and each dish’s cultural meanings.

Posts titled, “Korean Food and Its Delicate Tastes,” “How to Enjoy Korean Tastes and Styles to Their Fullest” and “Preparation and Cooking Methods” are provided on the main screen of the application.

Images and information found on the application can be shared through online social media, such as Facebook or Twitter.

“This application will serve as a method of public diplomacy,” a Korean Foundation official stated, “We wish to use this program about Korean food and its nature, form and colors, to help promote the culture to a global audience and ultimately raise the value of our national brand.”

Korean Food Guide 800 has been registered on Apple’s iTunes and Google’s Play Store since Aug. 5, downloadable free of charge.