The Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN), at the weekend, empowered three Nigerians who won its 2024 Hansik (Korean food) contest with over N2 million cash prizes.
The first prize winners received N1 million, the second prize winner got N700,000, while the third place winner received N400,000.
In a remarkable turn of events, Mrs Patience Berepele, a gospel counsellor, emerged victorious in the keenly-contested cooking event.
The contest, which celebrated Korean traditional Jang (fermented sauces) culture, featured a variety of traditional Korean dishes such as Tteokbokki, Ranyeon, Yukgaejang, Galbitane, Yakgwa and rice crackers.
The competition saw nine contestants, including one team of one and eight individuals compete for the top prize.
Berepele distinguished herself with a winning dish of Ssambap with Bulgogi Ssamjang, accompanied by Doenjang Jjigae and side dishes like rolled omelet (Gyeran Mari), eggplant (Gaji namil) and bean sprout salad (Sukjulnamal). Her victory earned her a cash prize of N1 million.
In her speech, Berepele praised KCCN for fostering cultural exchange and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to showcase her culinary skills.
The second-place winner, Mr Victor Mac-Adonai, an engineering graduate, lauded the competition for allowing him to prove his culinary prowess. Drawing inspiration from renowned chef Auguste Gusteau’s philosophy that “Anyone can cook,” Mac-Adonai emphasised that cooking is an art that transcends boundaries and expectations.
The third-place finisher, Mr Yahya Bindir, a software developer, expressed his excitement about reaching the final stages of the competition and thanked his supporters and KCCN for the opportunity.
Mr Kim Changki, Director of KCCN, highlighted the success of the Hansik programme in bridging cultural gaps between Nigerians and Koreans through their shared love for food.
He commended the winners for their enthusiasm and skill in Korean cuisine and announced plans to collaborate with the Association of Professional Chefs in Nigeria to further develop the programme.
The event also featured engaging activities such as a ‘Guess the Ingredients’ game, K-food trivia, a spicy noodle Mukbang challenge, chopstick games and K-pop dance performances, adding an entertaining dimension to the culinary competition.
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