Kim Hye-kyung, accompanying President Lee Jae-myung on his visit to New York, shared the spirit of Chuseok with the local Korean community on September 23.
She participated in a Songpyeon-making event organized by the Korean Family Counseling Center at the Korean Cultural Center in New York. Wearing a colorful traditional apron, Kim encouraged attendees to stand and bow to one another, saying, "It feels like we are all wearing hanbok together."
In her opening remarks, Kim reflected, "Meeting you all in New York while wearing this colorful apron reminds me of my childhood, when I would sit with my mother and relatives to make Songpyeon before the holidays."
She humorously expressed her concerns about her Songpyeon-making skills, saying, "I haven't made Songpyeon in a long time, and I worried about how they would turn out. If they don't look good, they'll definitely be photographed and featured in an article!" This elicited laughter from the attendees.
Kim also shared memories of making Songpyeon with her aunt, discussing school life and her first crush. She expressed her hope that the gathering would be a space for sharing joyful, sad, and happy stories as they approach the holiday.
As she shaped the dough and filled it with sesame seeds and other ingredients, Kim joked, "Mine turned out like dumplings, which is a big problem! I used to make them well back in the day."
When a chef mentioned that making beautiful Songpyeon leads to having beautiful daughters, Kim playfully responded, "Why do you say that? I only have two sons!"
Kim also highlighted the global popularity of K-food while making Songpyeon. She noted, "When I meet foreign leaders, I am surprised at how casually they handle chopsticks and kimchi."
She emphasized, "While K-pop and K-beauty are well-known, K-food is what truly shapes people's tastes. Once you get accustomed to it, you can't escape it."
Kim remarked on the changing perceptions of Korean food in the U.S., stating, "In the past, Americans were not fond of rice cakes or kimbap, but now they enjoy gimbap and tteokbokki very much." She stressed the important role of chefs and the Korean community in promoting Korean cuisine locally.
She also suggested the potential for using food in psychological healing, saying, "When your mind is cluttered, focusing on simple tasks like making dumplings can bring peace. Just like music or art therapy, food can also be used for healing."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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