The Korean Cultural Center in Thailand recently organized a comprehensive special lecture series focusing on Korean temple food, running from September 5 to 6. This cultural initiative was developed in collaboration with the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism and formed part of the ambitious '2025 Touring K-arts' program.

The lecture series received substantial support from two major Korean institutions: the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Korea, and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. This backing highlights the Korean government's commitment to promoting traditional Buddhist culinary arts as an important aspect of Korean cultural heritage abroad.

The highlight of the program took place on September 6, when Venerable Dongwha conducted an interactive cooking demonstration and tasting session. The event attracted significant interest from the local community, with 70 participants attending the demonstration and tasting class, while an additional 15 people participated in a hands-on cooking workshop at the Center.

During the practical sessions, participants learned to prepare two traditional Korean temple dishes: 'Mushroom Rice' (known as Beoseotbap in Korean) and 'Green Pepper Kimchi' (called Gochusobagi). These dishes represent the essence of Korean Buddhist cuisine, which emphasizes plant-based ingredients and mindful preparation methods that align with Buddhist principles.

The participants demonstrated remarkable engagement throughout the program, asking numerous detailed questions about the cooking techniques and ingredients. Their inquiries included practical concerns such as whether perilla oil could be substituted with sesame oil, the specific differences between green pepper kimchi and regular kimchi varieties, and detailed instructions on how to make plum extract, which serves as a key ingredient in green pepper kimchi preparation.

The Korean Cultural Center emphasized its ongoing commitment to fostering deeper cultural understanding between Korea and Thailand. Officials stated that they will continue to promote meaningful cultural exchange between the two nations through various cultural elements, including religious practices, traditional cuisine, and other aspects of Korean heritage that resonate with Thai audiences.