Manmin Central Church Hosts K-Food Event
More than 110 guests from across the globe gathered at Manmin Central Church, led by Senior Pastor Soojin Lee, on August 3 for a vibrant K-Food experience, discovering the art of Korean cuisine just a day before the church’s annual summer retreat. The event welcomed participants from countries such as Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Colombia, Peru, Kenya, and Moldova. This year’s event, now in its second year, featured a generous spread of gimbap, tteokbokki, eomuk (Korean fish cake) soup, and cup noodles. For many, the highlight was learning how to roll their own gimbap — a staple Korean dish made with rice, vegetables, and protein wrapped in seaweed. “It tastes so much better when I make it myself!” exclaimed one participant, beaming with pride after trying their creation. Despite the unfamiliar techniques and ingredients, the room quickly filled with laughter as guests helped one another and shared their creations. Tteokbokki is a popular Korean street food made with chewy rice cakes in a spicy and slightly sweet gochujang-based sauce. Wiyada from Thailand shared her thoughts, saying, “Making gimbap myself was much easier than I expected. I’d love to teach others how to make it when I return to Thailand.” Pastor Dhany Satrianto, who joined the event with his wife from Indonesia, said, “Korean dishes like gimbap and tteokbokki were so delicious—I definitely want to try them again next time.” Patricia Nieva from Peru smiled as she said, “The process of making gimbap was fascinating. It wasn’t difficult, so I had fun making it and really enjoyed the taste.” The church organizers stated that the program aimed to foster cultural understanding and provide a hands-on introduction to Korean cuisine to the international community. “We wanted our guests to experience Korea not just by watching, but also by doing,” the church said in a statement. “It was moving to see their excitement, and we’re committed to continuing cultural programs like this.” The K-Food workshop is part of the Church’s broader initiative to create immersive cultural experiences for its growing network of international members. The experience of international guests making Korean food themselves has proven to be an effective way to deepen understanding and appreciation of Korean culture. This hands-on program organized by Manmin Central Church can play a significant role in the globalization of K-Food and in promoting cultural exchange. In particular, this event is seen as a strong example of grassroots cultural diplomacy. 정현식 기자central church central church food experience korean cuisine
2025.08.03. 23:34
