‘Black and White Chef Craze’ Continues in Songpa!... 'Korean Food Cooking Class' Held at Garak Market

Korean Cooking Class for 48 Foreigners from 25 Countries Held at Garak Mall on 15th and 16th
Learn 'Korean Hand Flavor' from Blue-Eyed Star Chef... Making Japchae and Kimchijeon

Amid the ongoing global Korean food craze, Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that it will operate the ‘Korean Food Cooking Class’ for foreign residents and tourists in Korea on the 15th and 16th, offering an experience of the ‘Taste of Korea.’

Every year, the district collaborates with the Seoul Agricultural & Marine Products Corporation to hold Korean cooking classes at Garak Market, a representative tourist attraction and a paradise for ingredients in the district. The aim is to help deepen understanding of Korean culture and promote the charm of Songpa-gu tourism beyond borders.

This year’s classes will be held on the 15th and 16th at the cooking studio inside Garak Mall. Chef Dario Joseph Lee, a German-born chef active in various broadcasts such as ‘You Quiz on the Block,’ will lead the classes again this year. Participants will receive safety accident prevention training before cooking and will be divided into six groups to practice making Japchae and Kimchi Jeon in sequence over three hours.

A district official said, “Last year, we cooked Dakbokkeumtang and Pajeon, and this year we prepared Japchae and Kimchi Jeon, vegan dishes that everyone loves regardless of nationality. This reflects feedback from last year’s classes.” He added, “The program, which allows participants to properly experience Korean cuisine, has gained popularity through word of mouth and fills up quickly every time registration opens.”

Participants from last year who were satisfied with the class also left thank-you messages for the district. One participant from Iran said, “I am grateful to the staff who created a special memory. It was an enjoyable time because we were able to try every step ourselves.”

Another participant from Chile left a review saying, “It was great to have enough time to cook and interact with the chef.”

This year, with 48 participants from a total of 25 countries, the district plans to ensure smooth class operation. English will be used as the common language to avoid communication difficulties, and Songpa Tourism Supporters who can speak Chinese and Japanese will be stationed throughout the venue to provide detailed assistance from directions to overall class support.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “I hope foreign guests visiting Songpa create delicious and happy memories and return home. We will continue to discover creative tourism programs unique to the district in line with the globalization trend of K-culture.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.