Gyeonggi holds Asia’s and Oceania’s first Slow Food International Contest on October 1 in Namyangju

◇ Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo is giving a congratulatory speech on October 1 at the Namyangju Slow Food International Contest. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo enjoyed a feast of food from 43 nations in Asia and Oceania in Namyangju, which had successfully held the Organic Food Contest two years ago.

Governor Kim attended the opening ceremony of the 2013 Namyangju Slow Food International Contest (Asio Gusto) in the Ipae-dong Sports and Cultural Center in Namyangju in the afternoon of October 1.

Over 3,000 people attended the ceremony and showed interest in the first-ever event. Participants consisted of Namyangju Mayor Lee Seok-woo; Paolo Di Croce, Secretary General of Slow Food International Headquarters; National Assembly members Park Gi-choon, Choi Jae-seong and Jung Byeong-gook; honorary ambassador Choi Bul-am; Kim Ik-ho, head of Gyeonggi Agricultural Administration Bureau; representatives and participants worldwide; and Namyangju citizens.

The opening event included a joint performance by Poppin’ Hyun Joon and Korean traditional musician Park Ae-ri, a ceremony of Daejanggeum food arrangement performance by Miss Koreas, and entrance of traditional garments and national flags of participating nations.

In the congratulatory speech, Governor Kim Moon-soo said, “After successfully holding Asia’s first Organic Food Contest two years ago, Namyangju is now holding Asia’s and Oceania’s first Slow Food International Contest. I’m proud of Namyangju leading the food and agriculture in Korea as well as the entire Asia. I would like to congratulate Namyangju on leaping into a world-level city beyond Asia.”

Governor Kim also added, “Slow food is not just about something to eat, but it well reflects the spirit of Namyangju citizens who love nature and the environment. The Slow Food International Contest embraces the excellent philosophy of Namyangju citizens who aim to construct a new city with traditional agriculture while also developing as a modern city.”

He was also unsparing in his praise, saying, “Namyangju citizens value human spirit and love the life with faith. This contest embraces the great philosophy of making the entire human race healthy with food, in honest spirits and scientific attitude.”

Namyangju Mayor Lee Seok-woo commented, “The slow food movement must take root in our everyday life. Food with no nationalities and genetically modified food harm our bodies,” showing his confidence in the success of Asio Gusto saying, “I hope you visit Asio Gusto to enjoy a thousand tastes, experience proper eating habits, and take memories home with you. We will make Namyangju a world-class slow life city with organic and slow food.”

After the congratulatory speech, representatives from -seven nations in each region of Asia and Oceania delivered a message on the topic ‘Food is Life.’

Arirang, the Korean traditional music that goes best with slow food, touched upon the hearts of participants from all over the world. The folk song by Korean traditional musician Park Ae-ri as well as the chorus by Namyangju City Choir made up of 330 members at the end of the opening ceremony also impressed global visitors with Arirang.

Honorary ambassador Choi Bul-am who hosts the KBS TV show Korean Food Table  expressed his impressions that, “If I’d known about slow food sooner, I would have come with the Korean Food Table crew. It is regrettable that I found out about it later. I will act as a leader instead of a bystander to preserve our food culture and make slow food a great success with Gyeonggi residents.”

At the end of the opening event, the Namyangju Walking Federation members, who walked 185㎞ from Inje to wish the success of this contest, made an appearance with the namsadangpae (traveling entertainment troupes). They gave an exciting performance of daedongnori and impressed the global visitors all over again. Governor Kim also went onstage to demonstrate spin-the-plate personally, wishing the contest to be successful and delivering the idea of the Korean agricultural mind.

◇ Miss Koreas are showing the traditional dance of a ceremony of Daejanggeum food arrangement. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

◇ The Korean delegation is entering the arena. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

Following Italy, which is the birthplace of the Slow Food International Contest, and France, Korea is the third country to host this festival, which will be held until October 6 under the theme ‘Food is Life.’ It will be held in Namyangju every two years.

Asio Gusto is the only taste and culture festival of 3.8 billion Asians and Oceanians, and Gusto means taste in Italian. This contest is one of the world’s top three food fairs along with Italy’s Salone del Gusto, which is basically the same as the slow food contest, and France’s Euro Gusto, which is the European contest.

The slow food movement originated from Italy to stand against fast food. It pursues delicious food that is good for health (Good), clean food that does not pollute the environment (Clean), and fair food that is traded at proper price (Fair). It is a comprehensive food culture movement that builds the foundation for proper food and considers the environment as well.

The Slow Food International Headquarters of Italy founded Asio Gusto last year to protect the long-established food culture of Asia and Oceania. Namyangju, which successfully held the World Organic Food Contest in 2011, actively invited this contest to make Namyangju a world-class slow life city.

“I’m surprised at the great scale of this contest, greater even than the first one in Italy and France,” said Paolo Di Croce, Secretary General of Slow Food International Headquarters. “I didn’t know how systemized this could be. I encountered this market for the first time in 2009 and came to this day. I’m deeply moved by the spirit and attitude as well as passion and faith.”

“People became aware of the fact that there are problems in the system of processing food, and that commercial food causes environmental issues,” said Paolo regarding the popularity of slow food and explained, “This is due to the increasing interest in food related to health such as diabetes. We are more desperate than ever as the population of 1.5 billion is suffering from improper food for the past 60 years due to the plant system and safety destruction.

The International Headquarters is located in Bra near Torino, Italy, leading worldwide slow food movements with the participation of over 160 nations. President Carlo Petrini did not attend this contest due to health issues.

◇ Honorary ambassador Choi Bul-am is giving a greeting speech. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

◇ Governor Kim is demonstrating spin-the-plate with a global participant. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

The Organization Committee provides 12 special attractions of the Slow Food International through which the visitors can enjoy a variety of tastes and flavors of 43 nations worldwide.

The Theme Pavilion consists of five zones: Ark of Taste, Korean Temple Food, One Housekeeping, Cooking Contest, and Taste Workshop & Slow Food Edu Zone.

At the Ark of Taste in the Theme Pavilion, visitors can taste 1,179 food items of 76 nations that are on the brink of extinction. For Korean foods, Taean’s ‘sea salt,’ Jangheung’s ‘coin tea,’ Jeju’s ‘black bull/green bean paste,’ Gyeongnam Jinju’s ‘crippled wheat,’ Chunnam Nonsan’s ‘Yeonsan ogye,’ and Gyeongbuk Ulleung’s ‘striped ox/Hanson lily’ were registered for the first time.

The International Pavilion provides samples and demonstrations of representative foods offered by local people of 35 Asian and Oseanian nations. The Korean Pavilion has all representative foods nationwide that cannot be easily encountered in the capital areas at one place, which can be directly purchased from the 30 booths.

These three pavilions can be attended with a charge of KRW 5,000 per person, and the experience participation fee will be charged additionally.

In the World’s Street Food zone, visitors can enjoy 25 types of food from five continents such as Switzerland’s fondue, Spain’s sangria, El Salvador’s pupusa, Congo’s beef kebab and many others. Visitors can also listen to cooking lectures by global chefs and enjoy sampling and demonstration of cooking along with music performances.

Moreover, there is the Kids Gusto with a cartoon character Cocomong, ‘Food Show’ cooking food with agricultural products labeled B-class due to bruises and insect marks, International Restaurant, Korean Food Table, Taste Workshop, and many others.

The Kids Gusto teaches proper eating habits to children, and there are also beneficial programs like conferences and workshops in which visitors can exchange the trend of international slow food.

The Organization Committee is expecting 300,000 visitors including 15,000 foreigners, KRW 37 billion of regional economy inductive effect, and KRW 100 billion of national economy ripple effect. There are research findings which state that the social cost reduction effect of national health and eating habit is KRW 250 billion.

Parking lots for 1,300 cars in 13 spots in the exhibition venue as well as lots for 2,000 cars are provided in seven spots at some distance. Shuttle buses run at 20-30 minute intervals from the Jungang Line Donong Station, which is a ten-minute walk away from the venue.

Vistors can visit Asio Gusto from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more details, you can refer to the Slow Food International website (www.asiogusto.org) or contact Slow Food Organization Committee (031-590-8861∼3).

◇ Governor Kim is resolving to make Asio Gusto a success with the participants. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

◇ Governor Kim is rowing to the traditional tunes with the participants including Secretary General Paolo Di Croce. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

ⓒGyeonggi G-News | Park Gwan-sik malbut@kg21.net

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