Stirring a bowl of rice, green vegetables, marinated beef, fresh egg yolk, chili paste and sesame oil with a big spoon, sound familiar?
This is the typical scene you can see at many Korean restaurants serving Jeonju bibimbap.
Jeonju, known as the home of bibimbap, is also famous for hanjeongsik (full course meals) and kongnamulgukbap (rice served with bean sprout soup), thanks to the abundant harvests produced in Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province) and its legacy as the home of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) founder Yi Seong-gye.
To spread its unique taste of gourmet food, Jeonju's Pungnam Culture Incorporated Association will hold the 1st Korean food festival in Jeonju from Nov. 11 to 15, 2007.
During the five-day event, visitors can enjoy various Jeonju specialties and experience Hanok (traditional Korean house) stays and the beauty of deep autumn foliage. Through the food festival, Jeonju aims to promote its heritage as the home of Yi Seong-gye and 700 well-preserved Hanok structures.
Various events to amuse visitors
One of the main themes of the festival is a restaurant tour where visitors find the various, unique tastes of Korean food ranging from bibimbap, kongnamulgukbap and noodles to full course meals served at 197 restaurants in Jeonju. Anyone who wants to join the program can find restaurants from the visitors' booklet by taking a shuttle bus provided by the Jeonju City Office.
Jeonju will also invite 100 excellent chefs for several food competitions during the festival. The city will hold the “Worldwide Korean Food Competition” with chefs from China, Japan and Finland setting up booths to promote their country's traditional food; the “Korean Local Rice Competition,” where local specialty rice dishes from eight provinces will be displayed; and the “Traditional Food Lunchbox Competition” and “Gimgang Kimchi Cooking Festival” where participants can bring their own hand-made kimchi.
hanjeongsik (full course Korean meal)
Various food-related movies -- “Fried Green Tomatoes” directed by U.S. filmmaker Jon Avnet in 1991, China's “A Feast, Food & Sex,” directed by Lee Ang, and “God Of Cookery” directed by Hong Kong comedian Stehpen Chow -- and performances and court cuisine displays are also planned during the festival. More information is available at http://www.jjpnj.com/
Tourists attractions in Jeonju
Jeonju's Hanok village is the largest collection of Hanok preserved inside a city center. Nearly 700 Hanok houses, all built more than 100 years ago, are located in Pungnam-dong and Gyo-dong, creating a unique contrast between Hanok structures and nearby modern facades. Visitors can book a Hanok stay and experience traditional dyeing, porcelain making and Hanji (traditional Korean paper) craft art during their stay. More information is available at http://hanok.jeonju.go.kr/ or call 063-281-2114.
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff writer
* Download the festival brochure
