The first-ever Korea Kimchi Festival in Malaysia was launched at the K PLUS Food Market in Mutiara Damansara by Korea’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Chung Hwang-keun, and Malaysia’s Director-General of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Dato’ Dr Mohamad Zabawi bin Abdul Ghani.
The event aims to provide Malaysians with an immersive Korean cultural experience and promote the “Korean way of living”.
Efforts to promote Korean culture and halal products
The Korea Kimchi Festival is a collaborative effort between K PLUS Food Market, Malaysia’s largest Korean supermarket, and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp (aT), a Korean government agency.
The festival aims to educate Malaysians about the health benefits of Korean produce and superfoods like kimchi while promoting environmental sustainability. With the establishment of a branch in Kuala Lumpur, aT intends to spearhead Korea’s halal food market in Malaysia, catering to the Muslim population.
Datuk Matthew Lee, Chairman and Founder of KMT Jaya Sdn. Bhd was awarded the JangBoGo Award for his contribution to raising awareness of the importance of Halal products in the global Muslim market.
His efforts include acquiring Halal certificates and distributing major Korean food products in Malaysia. By importing the finest quality halal-certified fresh produce and cooking ingredients, K PLUS Food Market aims to provide healthier options to Malaysian consumers.
Celebrity chef appearance at Korea Kimchi Festival
The Korea Kimchi Festival will be held from May 12 to May 21, 2023, at K Plus Food Market.
The event includes activities like Kimchi and Bulgogi-making classes, treasure hunting, name guessing, and colouring contests. For Korean food lovers, an eating competition will be held on May 27.
During the launch, Malaysian celebrity Chef Jongga and Nongshim Farmer’s Heart ambassador, Datuk Dr Chef Wan, hosted a Kimchi-making class to demonstrate how to prepare Kimchi with a Malaysian twist.
He emphasized the benefits of incorporating Kimchi into Malaysians’ daily diets and encouraged the adoption of healthier dietary compositions.
With a focus on promoting halal products, the festival provides a platform for learning, fun-filled activities, and culinary delights, showcasing the fusion of Korean and Malaysian cultures.