{
  "id": 16157874,
  "title": "Korea marks first Hansik Day, unveils vision for Korean cuisine",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/korea-marks-first-hansik-day-unveils-vision-for-korean-cuisine",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-23T06:32:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/people-events/20261023/korea-marks-first-hansik-day-unveils-vision-for-korean-cuisine"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea recently celebrated Hansik Day, a national commemorative day dedicated to Korean cuisine. The occasion took place in Seoul on Friday, just before the actual Hansik Day on Saturday. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-hosted the ceremony at the National Museum of Korea.\n\nThe term \"Hansik\" refers to Korean food. The date of October 24, chosen for Hansik Day, combines the number 10, symbolizing completion and harmony, with the 24 solar terms, traditional seasonal markers that have guided farming in Korea for ages. Approximately 300 attendees participated in the ceremony, comprising diplomats from 15 nations, food industry professionals, scholars, and certified food masters, individuals recognized by the government for their expertise in traditional food preparation.\n\nVice Agriculture Minister Kim Jong-gu unveiled four policy directions during the ceremony. The primary aim is to safeguard fermented foods like kimchi and soybean-based sauces, known as jang.",
  "summary": "Korea held its first official ceremony for Hansik Day, a newly designated national commemorative day for Korean cuisine, in Seoul on Friday. At the event, officials outlined plans to turn the country’s food into a global cultural and industrial asset. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-hosted the ceremony at the National Museum of Korea, a…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korea celebrates Hansik Day for the first time, marking Korean cuisine.",
    "Hansik Day held in Seoul on Friday, October 24, ahead of actual date.",
    "Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs co-hosts ceremony."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Institutionalizing a national day for Korean cuisine signals a strategic shift toward protecting traditional fermented staples and leveraging culinary heritage as a tool for international cultural diplomacy.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}