More than what’s on the plate.
A meal can be an invitation to understand another culture. Gastrodiplomacy explores how cuisine helps nations and communities communicate who they are.
This project looks at the connections between food, tourism, national identity, and cultural exchange.
Where food and travel meet.
How does experiencing a cuisine shape the way we see a country? Dr. Suntikul’s research examines the relationship between gastrodiplomacy, tourism, and national identity.
Read the research paper (PDF) →
One table. Many cultures.
Explore the five countries in the original collection. Their dedicated guides are forthcoming.
France · South Korea · Thailand · Taiwan · Peru
People, places & the food between them.
Explore photographs from the original project.
A curiosity about the world.
Meet Dr. Wantanee Suntikul and learn about the person behind this project.
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COUNTRY COLLECTION / ASIA
South Korea
From the shared work of making kimchi to hands-on cooking abroad, Korean food offers a way to explore how everyday traditions become cultural encounters.
Food and cultural identity
Kimjang is the collective preparation and sharing of kimchi, especially in late autumn. UNESCO inscribed the practice on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. Its account emphasizes cooperation between households, regional variation and knowledge passed through families. The heritage is the practice of making and sharing food, alongside the finished dish.
Public diplomacy example
The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles has presented the Hansik Dorak food-culture exhibition and a workshop on Korean table manners and traditional table settings. Produced through Korea’s cultural institutions, these activities invite overseas audiences to experience the social customs surrounding a meal. They offer a useful example for considering how exhibitions and participation can introduce a cuisine’s cultural context.
Explore further
Read UNESCO’s account of kimjang, then explore the cultural center’s exhibition and workshop. Compare what each emphasizes: family knowledge, the setting of a table, and the visitor’s opportunity to participate.
Official sources
A curated introduction based on the official sources above.
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