Park Mihee, CEO of Domisol Foods in Paju, Designated as Master of Korean Food

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on December 11 that Park Mihee, CEO of Domisol Foods and a traditional food manufacturer in the city, has been designated as the 98th Master of Korean Food by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Park Mihee, CEO of Domisol Foods and a traditional food manufacturer in Paju City, is being awarded the certificate as the 98th Master of Korean Food by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Provided by Paju City

The "Master of Korean Food" program, established in 1994, identifies and designates experts with outstanding skills in the fields of traditional food manufacturing, processing, and cooking. The final selection is made through document and on-site evaluations covering six criteria-including tradition, functionality, protection value, and the need for succession-followed by a review by the Food Industry Promotion Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

This year, 7 out of 37 applicants nationwide were ultimately selected, with Park Mihee among those chosen. In particular, her originality was highly praised for her "Jogi Kimchi," which is distinct from regular napa cabbage kimchi. With this designation, the number of Masters of Korean Food active in Paju has increased to two, further enhancing the reputation of the city's traditional food industry.

For over 30 years, Park Mihee has adhered to traditional methods in producing "Jogi Kimchi," modernizing and standardizing techniques such as low-salt fermentation and the blending and aging ratios of pollock and croaker to achieve outstanding quality. She has demonstrated solid expertise in the kimchi field, winning the Grand Prize (Prime Minister’s Award) at the "Korea Kimchi Evaluation" hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and being named a "Master Craftsman of Korea" by the Ministry of Employment and Labor in 2024. She has also consistently worked to develop regionally distinctive products using agricultural produce from Paju.

Paju City expects that this designation will further strengthen the brand value of its traditional food products.

Lee Byungjik, Director of the Paju Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "It is very meaningful that an artisan active in our city has been selected as a Master of Korean Food, a title of national prestige. We will actively support promotional activities and market expansion in connection with Paju’s food industry."

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