South Korea’s Ambassador Kim Jong-yong and Consul General Shin Yong-gi joined members of the community and local guests at the festival’s inauguration on Sunday. The ambassador described the festival as one of the most important events in the cultural domain of bilateral relations. “This will serve the purpose of bringing our Saudi friends close to our culture and people,” he added.
“Our bilateral relations are strong and the festival is a move toward cementing cultural ties,” he said, adding that 2012 will mark the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and Korea. This will lay a new milestone in their friendly relations, the ambassador said.
Jong-yong also said that there was a move to invite Korean folks artists to the Kingdom and introduce them to the people of Saudi Arabia.
The importance of Korean food for good health was also emphasized at the festival through some of the choicest dishes offered by two chefs who were flown in for the event. The menu includes kimchi (fermented cabbage) with spices, which is served with almost every Korean meal. Steamed white rice, vegetable soup, and seafood or meat boiled in water are among the many highlights, chef Kim-Duk-lae said.
Korean cuisine, which has been developed over thousands of years, is based on rice, vegetables and meats, the chef said, adding that traditional Korean meals are accompanied by a number of side dishes. Commonly used ingredients include sesame oil, fermented bean paste, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and fermented red pepper paste.
