The Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Nigeeia, Mr Kim Pankyu, says the Embassy is planning to open a Korean Restaurant in Abuja for Nigerians yearning for Korean cuisines
Pankyu stated this in an interview on Saturday at the sideline of the ‘2024 Hansik (Korean Food) contest’ in Abuja.
The contest was organised by the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN).
According to him, the Hansik Contest provides opportunity to share both Nigeria and Korean culture in the area of cuisines.
“Many Nigerians are in love with Korean foods, but unfortunately, we don’t have restaurant in Abuja that makes Korean food.
“However, we are planning to open a Korean Restaurant in Abuja; I don’t know when, but very soon.
“We want to do this so that Nigerians can enjoy Korean Cuisines, and that will further boost the cultural relationship between the two countries,” Pankyu said.
Meanwhile, the overall winner of the 2024 Hansik, Mrs Patience Berepele who clinched the one million naira prize money said the journey to her winning the contest started in June.
Berepele, who is also a Guardian Councillor said every contestant was a potential winner, adding that she was able to make it through the different rounds.
“I feel so excited; words cannot describe how I feel as the overall winner. It was a kine contest. I thank God and KCCN for the opportunity.
“They have done well in promoting Korean Culture in Nigeria, this is because, in the second round of the contest, they found a way of blending Nigeria and Korea,”Berepele said.
Similarly, the first runner up, Victor Mac-Adonai, appreciated KCCN for givien him the opportunity to participate in the contest.
“Anyone can cook, Yes, but only the fearless can be great. A cook makes food; I love food, therefore, i love to cook.
“People think cuisine is snooty, exclusively meant for the elites, and therefore a chef must also be snooty. But its not so, a cook is someone who makes food. You must not let anyone define your limits,” Mac-Adonai stressed.
The second runners up Yahaya Bindo, a software developer expressed pleasure for coming third and appreciated the KCCN, his family and friends for their supports.
While Berepele went home with one million naira only, Mac-Adonai got seven hundred thousand naira, and Bindo ran away with four hundred thousand naira respectively.