[G20 SEOUL SUMMIT 2010]Korea’s Culinary Culture Comes to Life in an App

An iPad application named “Korean Food, Originality & Impression-Special Edition” has been developed by the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper in line with the national campaign to globalize Korean food. Produced in English, the application can be downloaded in all countries where Apple AppStore is available including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.

Why do Koreans like to stir and mix different food ingredients, wrap them in vegetables or put rice into hot soup? Foreigners who have tried Korean dishes such as bibimbap, bulgogi and seoll-eongtang must have wondered. Yet there are few contents available to satisfy their curiosity.

This is why the Dong-a Ilbo,the leading vernacular newspaper in Korea, decided to launch this iPad application.

Introducing the 5,000-year history and philosophy of Korean food, “Korean Food, Originality & Impression-Special Edition” helps users better understand the spirit and minds of Koreans, as re-flected in Korean cuisine.

This application is divided into two main parts. The first part, “Korean Food, The Originality” explains the philosophical aspects of Korean food such as Korea’s traditional concept of yakshikdongwon, meaning “food and medicine are from the same root,” and the reason Korean food is decorated with the traditional obangsaek, or five colors-(yellow, blue/green, white, red and black). Fermentation, preservation methods and the nutritional value of kimchi are also explored.

“Korean Food, The Impression,” the second part, describes Korea’s healthy cuisine, royal court cuisine, fusions of Korean food with Western food, temple food and bibimbap culture.

Some of the application contents are available on the mobile homepage of the G20 Seoul Summit 2010. Open your smartphone’s mobile web browser, go to “m.seoulsummit.kr,” and touch the “Korean Food” icon on the main page.

The application contents are based on “Korean Food Originality & Impression,” a two-volume English book on Korean food published by the Dong-a Ilbo in July 2010. Print copies are also available in the COEX G20 Summit Media Center.

By Kang Jee-nam
layra@donga.com