Years before Korean movies, dramas and music like Oscar-winning Parasite, Netflix’s hit series Squid Game and record-breaking BTS took the world by storm, the South Korean government mapped out a grandiose plan to make Korean food, collectively called Hansik in Korean, one of the world’s five greatest cuisines by 2017.

Although the plan encountered a number of obstacles along the way, especially during the transition between governments, Korean food is now receiving rave reviews from both the general public and food critics.

In addition to well-known Korean foods like Bulgogi, Bibimbap and Kimchi, a variety of more niche desserts and street foods are currently making waves on the global market.

Capitalizing on this trend, food companies are also expanding their presence in different countries.

1.Summary

2.‘Kimchi Diplomacy’: the driving force behind the rise of K-food