The event, part of the company’s Cuisine.K initiative, was held in Indonesia in partnership with Akademi Sages, a leading culinary institute in the country.
CJ CheilJedang served as the exclusive sponsor of the two-month competition, which attracted over 100 aspiring chefs eager to fuse Korean flavors with local traditions.
The contest began in May with an online preliminary round, challenging participants to create original dishes under the theme of Indonesian-Korean main courses using Korean ingredients.
Competitors drew on a variety of CJ products widely available in Indonesia — such as Bibigo dumplings, seaweed, and gochujang (red pepper paste) — to craft dishes that reflected both culinary cultures.
Michael Ken Samuel, who emerged as the grand prize winner, impressed judges with his inventive use of dumplings and fermented soybean paste.
“This competition not only deepened my understanding of Korean cuisine but also solidified my dream of becoming a Korean food chef,” Samuel said following his win.
The initiative comes as Korean cuisine continues to gain international attention through popular media, including Netflix’s hit cooking show Culinary Class Wars, which has helped spotlight Korean food culture on screens worldwide.
“For CJ CheilJedang, this was more than a competition — it was a meaningful opportunity to inspire lasting interest in Korean cuisine and share the DNA of K-food with the next generation of chefs in Indonesia,” said Kim Sang-myeong, who oversaw the project.
The company said it plans to expand the Cuisine.K program to other countries in the coming years, in line with its broader efforts to globalize Korean food and elevate local talent with a passion for Korean flavors.
reporter
Kim Dong-young
davekim0807@ajupress.com
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