By Honorary Reporter Isabelle Pia Sison from Philippines
Photos = Isabelle Pia Sison

Honorary Reporters based in Korea on Sept. 28 experienced Korean cuisine at Hansik Space E:eum in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. Both Korean and foreign visitors interested in learning about traditional Korean food can receive cooking lessons there.

This event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Korea Culture and Information Service to promote Hansik to foreign visitors and globalize Korean cuisine.

In a cooking class for domestic and foreign media supporters, even a beginner cook like me learned how to prepare traditional snacks such as gangjeong (sweet rice puffs), which is made of sugar, water, grain syrup and nuts.

The instructor taught how to properly mix the ingredients and mold the mixture to create bite-sized pieces.

Students in the cooking class made the gangjeong (sweet rice puffs) shown in the photo.

The class also learned to properly and beautifully wrap their food creations with bojagi (traditional wrapping cloth), which made the snacks all ready to be given to loved ones.

The class including myself used bojagi to wrap the food.

Hansik Space E:eum also has Hansik Learning Center and Korea Food Grand Master Center. The Honorary Reporters also got to visit other parts of the space mentioned below.

Hansik Space E:eum offers interactive learning related to Hansik.

E:eum Cafe
Located on the first floor, this cafe offers more information on other traditional drinks and treats like tea, sweets, non-alcoholic beverages and rice cakes. Gift items for Chuseok can be purchased here.

E:eum Hall & Hansik Library
From foreign to children's cookbooks, a variety of reading materials on Korean cuisine are available here. This venue also hosts cultural events.

Sool Gallery
The unique taste of traditional Korean liquor is exhibited at this gallery. Sampling events with sommeliers (reservation required) and traditional Korean alcoholic beverages for purchase are available here.

To visit Hansik Space E:eum, get out Exit 2 at Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3). The place is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. but interactive cooking programs often require reservations that can be made on the following link: https://resv.hansik.or.kr/main/main.do

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.