The Essence of Korean Ginseng: Exploring Wellness Through Fine Korean Cuisine
Presented by the Korean Cultural Center New York with special support from Geumsan County.
◾ DATE & TIME: Thursday, September 17~Friday September 18, 2026 @ 6 PM
◾ VENUE: Bu-Eok at the Korean Cultural Center New York
(122 E 32nd Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016)
◾ ADMISSION: Free (Pre-registration required)
* Space is limited; advance registration is required.
* Due to limited capacity, participants will be selected through a randomized lottery process.
The Korean Cultural Center New York (KCCNY), with special support from Geumsan County, presents The Essence of Korean Ginseng: Exploring Wellness Through Fine Korean Cuisine, a special culinary program celebrating one of Korea’s most treasured ingredients—Korean ginseng.
For centuries, ginseng has held a special place in Korean food culture, valued not only as a distinctive culinary ingredient but also as an important part of Korea’s long tradition of nourishment and well-being. This program invites participants to discover the heritage, flavor, and versatility of Korean ginseng while exploring how this time-honored ingredient continues to inspire Korean cuisine today.
A Culinary Journey from Tradition to Contemporary Cuisine
Led by guest instructor Chef Kiki, the program will explore Korean ginseng through both traditional and contemporary culinary perspectives.
The program will feature Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup), one of Korea’s best-known traditional nourishing dishes. Traditionally enjoyed during the hottest days of summer, samgyetang is prepared with a whole young chicken filled with ingredients such as glutinous rice, garlic, jujube, and ginseng, reflecting the Korean culinary philosophy of restoring energy and balance through food.
Alongside this traditional dish, Chef Kiki will introduce an original contemporary creation featuring Geumsan ginseng, demonstrating how this deeply rooted Korean ingredient can be reimagined through modern culinary techniques and presentation.
Together, the dishes will offer a journey from tradition to contemporary Korean cuisine, highlighting the distinctive flavor, cultural significance, and creative possibilities of Korean ginseng
◆ ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Chef Kiki (Kiran) Kim is a New York–based Executive Chef, culinary creative, and educator known for blending French culinary technique with Korean culinary philosophy. Born and raised in Korea, she graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and refined her craft in Michelin-starred restaurants across the United States and France, developing a style rooted in precision, artistry, and innovation.
She currently serves as Executive Chef at Virgin Hotels New York, where she oversees multiple dining venues, banquet operations, and large-scale culinary events. Beyond the hotel, Chef Kiki leads international pop-ups, cultural collaborations, and educational workshops that introduce Korean cuisine through a contemporary global perspective.
Through her signature project, Art on the Table, Chef Kiki creates immersive dining experiences where gastronomy and contemporary art intersect. By translating an artist's vision into flavor, texture, presentation, and storytelling, she invites guests to experience food as a form of artistic expression.
Passionate about cultural exchange, Chef Kiki has collaborated with luxury brands, cultural institutions, and hospitality partners to showcase Korean ingredients through refined techniques and modern creativity. Her work continues to connect people through food, art, and storytelling while celebrating the evolving identity of Korean cuisine on the global stage.
◆ ABOUT THE GEUMSAN COUNTY
Located in Chungcheongnam-do Province, Geumsan County is widely known as the heart of Korea’s ginseng culture and one of the country’s most celebrated ginseng-producing regions. With a tradition of ginseng cultivation spanning more than 1,500 years, Geumsan has played an important role in preserving and advancing Korea’s rich heritage of ginseng farming, trade, and food culture.
Surrounded by mountains and blessed with a natural environment well suited for ginseng cultivation, Geumsan has developed generations of knowledge and expertise around this treasured Korean ingredient. In recognition of this enduring agricultural heritage, the Geumsan Traditional Ginseng Agricultural System was designated a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2018.
Today, Geumsan continues to serve as a center for Korea’s ginseng industry and culture, bringing together tradition, agriculture, research, cuisine, and contemporary wellness while sharing the value and versatility of Korean ginseng with audiences around the world.
◆ ABOUT THE GEUMSAN WORLD GINSENG FESTIVAL
The Geumsan World Ginseng Festival is Geumsan County’s signature annual celebration dedicated to Korean ginseng and the rich culture surrounding it. Bringing together tradition, food, wellness, agriculture, and community, the festival offers visitors an opportunity to experience the many dimensions of ginseng beyond its familiar role as a traditional health ingredient.
Held in the heart of Korea’s renowned ginseng region, the festival features a wide range of cultural and hands-on experiences highlighting ginseng, medicinal herbs, local cuisine, and regional traditions. It also serves as a vibrant platform for introducing the heritage and contemporary appeal of Geumsan ginseng to visitors from Korea and around the world.
The 44th Geumsan World Ginseng Festival will take place October 2–11, 2026, at the Geumsan Ginseng Expo Plaza and surrounding Ginseng & Medicinal Herb Street area in Geumsan, Korea.