Philippine and Korean New Year Culinary Traditions Featured on Arirang TV's Diplomat's Talks

By: Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, SEOUL

29 January 2023, Seoul. Philippine culinary traditions for New Year celebrations were featured on Arirang TV's show Diplomat's Talk in a special episode for Seollal, Korea's Lunar New Year festival.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega presenting Philippine dishes, fresh fruits, vegetables and other Philippine products to Diplomat Talks producer-director Nuri Na. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario and Agriculture Attache Ma. Alilia G. Maghirang assisted the Ambassador in preparing for the special episode of Diplomat Talks.
In the show, broadcast on Arirang's local and international channel and online platforms, Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-de Vega shared Philippine New Year food traditions, explaining to audiences the stories behind how certain dishes make their way to the Filipino holiday table. She likewise presented Philippine fruits, vegetables, and other food products available in the Korean market and what makes Filipino New Year celebrations festive and special.

In the same episode host and producer-director Nuri Na shared some interesting information about Seollal and prepared the traditional dish Tteokguk for Ambassador De Vega, while she tried the Philippines' pancit for long life and Ginataang Bilo-bilo and Biko as festive Philippine dishes for the New Year.

This activity is part of the Philippine Embassy's gastrodiplomacy program which aims to spark international audiences' interest in Filipino cuisine and culinary traditions. More gastrodiplomacy promotions will be held throughout the year as the Embassy gears up for the commemoration of 75 years of relations between the Philippines and Korea in 2024. END