The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Minister Chung Hwang-keun, MAFRA), the Korean Food Promotion Institute (Chairman Lim Kyung-sook) and Korea Agro‑Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. (President Kim Chun-jin, aT) held an opening ceremony on Aug. 30 for “Hansik Space” located in the Bukchon neighborhood of Seoul's Jongno-gu District.
The newly-built Hansik Space merged the dispersed cultural establishments including the former Hansik Gallery (in Mugyo-dong), Korea Food Grand Master Center and Sool (alcoholic beverage) Gallery (Yeoksam-dong) to host exhibitions, promotions and trainings on Korean food and traditional liquor in one setting.
Since the construction was completed last year, Hansik Space has started six-month pilot operation. With the official opening today, Hansik Space is expected to become a hub to promote Korean food around the world.
Hansik Space has one basement floor and two above-ground floors. The basement floor houses Hansik Library, which stores about 2,400 books about food, and E:eum Hall, where book concerts and research and academic programs are held.
On the first floor, there are Hansik Gallery, Korea Food Grand Master Center and Sool Gallery. Hansik Gallery holds permanent and special exhibitions showing the excellence and diversity of Korean food. Korea Food Grand Master Center exhibits around 210 masterpieces made by Korean culinary masters selling 180 products. Sool Gallery showcases about 300 types of traditional Korean liquor while sampling and selling about 80 of them.
The second floor is a space where people experience and learn the Korean food. Korea Food Grand Master Center provides Korean-food experience programs tailored to consumers in collaboration with the private sector such as Korean food masters and businesses. Hansik Learning Center and Hansik E:eum Studio offer both in-person and online cooking classes where visitors can learn how to cook and make a video.
※ Introduction of Hansik Space E:eum
ㅇ (Korean food culture) ① Cultural event, research and academic programs, ② Permanent and special exhibitions ③Experience and learning programs ④ E-learning and support for making videos, about the Korean food and its culture
* ① E:eum Hall(basement), ② Hansik Gallery (1st floor), ③ Hansik Learning Center (2nd floor), ④ Hansik E:eum Studio (2nd floor)
ㅇ (Traditional liquor) Showcasing about 300 types of traditional Korean liquor while sampling and selling about 80 of them ,and supporting startups and distribution channels (1st floor)
ㅇ (Korea food grand Masters) ① Introducing Korean food grand masters, showcasing about 210 masterpieces and selling 180 products, ② Experience programs of traditional Korean food tailored to consumers in collaboration with schools and businesses
* ①Korea Food Grand Master Center for introducing masters (1st floor), ②rea Food Grand Master Center for Korean food experiences (2nd floor)
Hansik Space produces various Korean food contents in cooperation with relevant government bodies, organizations, and private companies, and develops cooking experience programs for the Korean food. It reflects visitors’ feedback on its exhibition contents and experience programs and continues to improve them. In addition, it holds special events such as lectures at E:eum Hall for visitors to get information with a greater interest on the Korean food.
The opening ceremony was attended by Minister Jeong Hwang-geun of MAFRA, the former Chairman of the Korean Food Promotion Institute, CEO Park Jin-seon of Sampio, CEO Park Do-geun of Dookki Tteokbokki, Director Han Bok-ryeo of the Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine, Actor Kim Jae-won named as a Korean food ambassador, Michelin-starred chef Fabrizio Ferrari from Italy and others.
Minister Jeong Hwang-geun of MAFRA praised those who helped build Hansik Space for the hard work and called for active cooperation with private companies and related organizations to make Hansik Space a hub to promote the Korean food around the world.
Minister Jeong Hwang-geun of MAFRA said, "As Korean food is gaining a great interest from people around the world as a representative of Hallyu (Korean Wave) contents, we will boost activities of Hansik Space to create a new boom in the spread of Korean food. To nurture the Korean food culture, we will strengthen the policy efforts to advance the Korean food culture, such as strengthening R&D, PR and marketing and raising the status of a food master.”