Nigeria’s growing interest in Korean culture reached a new high in Abuja when Victor Mac-Adonai became the first male winner of the third Hansik cooking competition.
The event, organised by the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria, brought together young, enthusiastic cooks eager to explore the depth of Korean cuisine and its cultural heritage.
The competition was held at the RED Dish Chronicles Culinary School in Abuja’s Central Business District.
Beyond the excitement of the contest, the event highlighted the increasing cultural exchange between Nigeria and South Korea, particularly through food, music and youth engagement.
Initially, twenty participants registered online for the contest, themed “The Soul of Hansik,” which challenged them to demonstrate a thorough understanding of traditional Korean cuisine.
After several rounds of intense cooking and evaluation by professional chefs, the field was narrowed to eight finalists.
Ultimately, Favour Dajibesh secured third place, while Oluwasegun Faith finished as runner-up. Mac-Adonai clinched the top prize after impressing the judges with his interpretation of a classic Korean dish and his understanding of the cultural philosophy behind it.
His winning dish, Doenjang Jjigae – a traditional soybean paste stew widely considered a symbol of Korean comfort food – perfectly captured the essence of the competition’s theme.
Speaking after receiving the award, Mac-Adonai described his victory as both a personal achievement and a symbolic one.
“I wanted to make history as the first male winner of the Hansik contest. I prepared Doenjang Jjigae, a dish often described as the soul of Korea, and I believed it perfectly reflected the competition’s theme,” he said.
He also revealed plans to expand his culinary vision by launching a Nigerian brand of ramen noodles in collaboration with Korean production companies.
Jeon Ju Ho, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria, explained that the competition is part of a wider effort to strengthen cultural diplomacy between Nigeria and South Korea.
He added that the centre is utilising food, music and other cultural platforms to build stronger people-to-people relations between the two countries.
“This year’s theme, ‘The Soul of Hansik,’ encourages participants to explore the deeper meaning of Korean cuisine. Many people in Nigeria are still unfamiliar with Korean food, especially as there isn’t currently a dedicated Korean restaurant in Abuja. Events like this help to bridge that gap,” he said.
Judge and culinary expert, Godfrey Mario Odo, praised the contestants for their creativity and dedication, noting that many successfully blended Korean culinary techniques with locally sourced ingredients.
The competition also featured cultural performances by graduating students of the K-Pop Academy, further demonstrating the growing influence of Korean pop culture among Nigerian youth.
Observers believe the Hansik contest is gradually becoming an important platform for culinary innovation and cultural exchange, with Nigerian chefs increasingly experimenting with Korean flavours and adapting them to local tastes.