Building ties through food By Lee Yong-sung
Publisher:The Korea Herald - Publication Date: 19-10-2007

A Korean culinary expert and a former top Thai official have agreed to join hands to help enhance mutual understanding between their countries through food.

The agreement between Cho Jung-kang, president of the Institute of Traditional Korean Cuisine, and Krasae Chanawongse, former Thai foreign minister, includes setting up a Korean culinary camp for Thais at the institute for three months from December and opening Korean restaurants at four hotels in Bangkok.

Krasae said Korean soap opera Jewel in the Palace (Daejanggeum) is enjoying great popularity in his country. This is why he is sure of the success of the new Korean restaurants to open in Bangkok, which will specialise in the food presented in the drama -- the royal cuisine of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

The agreement also includes selling Korean ginseng products at 83 hotels in Thailand. "Besides Daejanggeum, Huh Joon'(another Korean drama based on the life of Joseon royal physician Huh Joon) is also very popular," said Krasae, who is currently chairman of the Raks Thai Foundation, a Bangkok-based NGO specialising in such areas as emergency relief, community natural resources management, and HIV/AIDS prevention.

More than 600 Thai opinion leaders will visit the country this winter to taste the essence of Korean cuisine, said Cho, who runs the culinary research and experience institute in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province.

The luncheon meeting between Cho and Krasae at the Grand InterContinental Seoul hotel were also joined by Hong Jung-wook, CEO and publisher of Herald Media Inc; Sohn Yong-geun, head of the Seoul Administrative Court; Kim Hyung-joo, president of Saman ELT Inc; and other business leaders interested in partnerships with Thai companies.

"Korean products made by Samsung and Hyundai are well accepted in Thailand, but more and more Thai people are coming to Korea for their favourite Korean singers and film stars as well," Krasae said.

Graduating from Siriraj Hospital, University of Medical Sciences, Krasae chose service in Muang Phon -- the rural municipality where he was born. There he established a rare rapport with less privileged people, educating them to a new and vital awareness of what they can do for themselves with meager means. With the contribution being widely recognised, he won Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1973.

.