Authentic Korean food comes to Taiwan – Learn to cook and enjoy K-Pop dance performances

Tourism Center / Taipei Report

As Korean dramas and K-Pop music gain immense popularity worldwide, the Hallyu (Korean Wave) has swept across the globe, and Korean cuisine is gradually winning over taste buds everywhere. Especially after the Korean historical drama "Dae Jang Geum," which features traditional royal court cuisine, became a massive hit in Taiwan and set the highest viewership rating for a foreign TV series, Taiwanese people have developed a strong interest in Korean food.


▲  This year marks the largest-scale participation of the Korea Pavilion since its debut at the exhibition in 2000. (Photo / Provided by the organizer)

The “2013 Taipei International Food Show,” running from today until the 29th, is being held at the Taipei World Trade Center and the Nangang Exhibition Center. Organized by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation in collaboration with 36 leading Korean agricultural product exporters, the Korea Pavilion is the largest it has been since its first appearance in 2000. Products on display include fresh produce such as melons, apples, pears, pumpkins, and mushrooms, as well as beverages like coffee, yuzu tea, juices, and aloe vera. Aquatic processed goods such as seasoned seaweed, dried sea cucumber, dried abalone, and seasoned squid are also showcased.

Other popular Korean products among Taiwanese consumers, such as soju (Korean liquor), kimchi, ginseng, chili paste, samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), banana milk, and various noodles, are also featured. Additionally, items making their first appearance at the event—including watermelon, fresh ginseng, balloon flower root products, red pine oil products, black ginseng, heartleaf houttuynia, Lemonmate tea, mackerel, and yellow croaker—are expected to help Taiwanese consumers better understand safe and high-quality Korean foods, while raising awareness and appreciation for them.

 
▲ Left: Radish wrap; Right: Five-color vegetable beef roll. (Photo / Provided by the organizer)

The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation stated that Taiwan serves as the leading hub of the Greater China region, and Taipei is an international city that drives consumption trends. Through this exhibition, the goal is not only to highlight the excellence and uniqueness of Korean food, but also to expand the foundation for Korean food exports, aiming to grow the overall export scale to USD 1 billion per year.

During the exhibition, the Korea Pavilion has also specially arranged energetic K-Pop dance performances. With the passionate hosting of professional emcees, visitors can fully experience the global appeal of K-Pop. In addition, a “Korean Food Culture Promotion Pavilion” has been set up to provide information about cooking Korean cuisine. The event also features a live Korean cooking demonstration and class led by Professor Kim Sung-ok, a “Culinary Master” appointed by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Visitors are invited to sample the dishes, hoping to help Taiwanese people fall in love with the authentic flavors of K-FOOD.