Korea Cooks Federaation (KCF) Appoints Young Chef Kyu Lyn Kim as the Youngest-Ever Member of the Junior National Culinary Team

The Korea Cooks Federation (KCF) announced on January 8, 2026, that Kyu Lyn Kim, a second-year student at Jamsil Middle School and a member of the Korea Young Chefs Team, has been selected as a member of the Junior National Culinary Team, becoming the youngest appointee in the history of Korean cuisine.   The Junior National Culinary Team, organized by The Korea Cooks Federation (KCF), traditionally consists of students from high school, university, and the general division. Candidates are selected through a rigorous application process based on submitted resumes, professional certifications, and competition records, with only nine members chosen nationwide each year.   Kim, a general middle school student, emerged as a remarkable talent in the Korean culinary scene in May 2025. Since then, she has competed in numerous domestic and international culinary competitions, consistently setting new records as the youngest award recipient in each event. Her rapid rise has earned her recognition as a leading figure among Korea’s young chefs and the nickname “genius girl chef.”   Mr. Jaeyong Kim, Secretary General of the Korea Cooks Federation (KCF), stated:   “The Junior National Culinary Team has traditionally been composed exclusively of high school students. Kim’s appointment as a junior national team member at just 14 years and 5 months old is officially recognized as the youngest selection in the history of Korean cuisine.” With this appointment, Kim continues her streak of record-breaking achievements into 2026. Mr. Seongjin Cho, Head Coach of the Junior National Culinary Team, explained the decision: “Based on Kim’s exceptional performance and competition results in 2025, her growing international influence, her serious and focused approach to cooking, and her outstanding ability to respond under pressure, we concluded that she fully meets the standards required of a national team member. Despite her young age, we confidently selected her for the team.”   Mr. Junwoo Lee, Director of Yangjae Chef School, who discovered and has mentored Kim, added:   “Kim is an exemplary and highly disciplined student. Thanks to her influence, we are seeing an increasing number of elementary school students dreaming of becoming chefs. This is a very positive sign for the future of Korean cuisine, and we hope her appointment will inspire the emergence of many more talented young Korean chefs.”   Under the intensive training of Head Coach Seongjin Cho, Kim will compete as a Junior National Culinary Team member for the first time at the 2026 International Culinary & Pastry Competition, scheduled to take place in May 2026.   The competition, which attracts more than 4,000 participants, is the largest culinary event of its kind in Korea. Kim first competed in the event in 2025, where she captured widespread attention by winning a silver medal as the youngest participant in the competition’s history. As 2026 begins, global attention is now focused on whether Kyu Lyn Kim, representing Korea’s next generation of chefs as a Junior National Culinary Team member, will be able to surpass her previous achievement and fulfill her unfinished silver-medal challenge on the same stage.      정현식 기자national member junior national korean cuisine korea young

2026.01.11. 17:14