Kimchi ambassadors: (From left) Chef Edward Kwon, Kim Jung-eun, Jin Goo and Keum Hyo-min
Curious about who the official representatives of kimchi are? Well, of course you are. We recently came across an article posted by Kimchisoju announcing that the city of Gwangju named Edward Kwon (head chef at Burj Al Arab, that fancypants resort in Dubai built to resemble a billowing sail) as well as actors Kim Jung-eun, Keum Hyo-min and Jin Goo as “Special Kimchi Ambassadors.”
To any who might question this city’s qualifications to bestow such a title, you should know that Gwangju is located in the South Jeolla Province which makes up more than 50 percent of Korea’s agricultural land, providing many of the ingredients used in the production of kimchi. The city is also planning on establishing a World Kimchi Research Center in the region in the near future. But most importantly, they host the Gwangju Kimchi Cultural Festival which will be taking place for the 16th time this fall, with the slogan “Kimchi is Culture.”
This makes us chuckle because we like puns and kimchi is CULTURED (Get it, get it? Cause it’s fermented!). But we don’t think the pun was intended, which makes it even better. So, anyhoo, congrats to these talented young people. And perhaps in the future Granny Choe will be honored as a Special Kimchi Ambassador to the Americas. We can only hope.
PS: More kimchi festival details to come soon.
Tags: ambassador, burj al arab- korea, chef, cultured, Edward Kwon, fermented, festival, gwangju, Jin Goo, Keum Hyo-min, Kim Jung-eun, kimchi, kings, queens