The event Asia's 50 Best Restaurants will be held for the first time in the country in Seoul. (World's 50 Best Restaurants' official website)

By Hong Angie
Video = Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant TV's official YouTube channel

The country will host for the first time a global event in Seoul honoring Asia's top restaurants.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on March 21 said the capital will hold Asia's 50 Best Restaurants from March 23-27. To be hosted by the U.K.-based list World's 50 Best Restaurants, the awards ceremony will be held throughout the city including at the hotels Grand InterContinental Parnas, Shilla Seoul and Four Seasons.

Dubbed the Academy Awards of gastronomy, the world list is the leading global honors of its kind along with the Michelin Guide. The Seoul event will rank the best restaurants in Asia from 1-50 based on votes from an electorate of over 300 Asian food experts worldwide.

Now in its 12th year, the Asian awards are expected to attract more than 800 world-class chefs, gourmands, food critics and media personnel to the ceremony, dinners and forums.

Over the event period, the city along with the ministry will jointly run the promotional Seoul Gourmet Promotion Zone, where chefs from Seoul's 100 best gourmet restaurants will make food using Korean ingredients. They will also host a workshop on Korean food featuring culinary aspects like Buddhist temple food and fermentation culture.

The Grand InterContinental Parnas on June 26 from 8 p.m. will host the announcement and awards ceremony for the top 50 Asia list. The ceremony will be livestreamed on the YouTube channel World's 50 Best Restaurants TV (youtube.com/@worlds50best).

Five Korean restaurants were among the top 51-100 list for Asia released on March 13, fueling anticipation over how many domestic establishments will make the top 50.

Last year, seven restaurants in the country made the top 100, with three between 51st and 100th and the rest in the top 50 to raise the image of Hansik (traditional cuisine).

"Given the growing popularity of K-food, demand for 'gastronomy tourism' has recently exploded and people worldwide are falling in love with Korean flavors and food," said Kim Young Hwan, director general of the ministry's Tourism and Sports Bureau. "With this event as a springboard, people can discover colorful events including Taste of Seoul in November."

shong9412@korea.kr