Mrs. Patience Berepele, a gospel counselor, has won the first edition of the ‘Hansik’ (Korean food) competition held in Abuja, securing the grand prize of N1 million.
The event, organized by the Korea Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN), showcased traditional Korean dishes such as Tteokbokki, Ranyeon, Yukgaejang, Galbitane, Yakgwa, and Rice cracker. Berepele’s winning dish, Ssambap with Bulgogi Ssamjang and Doenjang Jjigae, accompanied by Gyeran Mari, Gaji namul, and Sukjulnamul, impressed the judges.
The competition’s grand finale featured nine finalists, with Victor Mac-Adonai, an engineering graduate, finishing second and winning N700,000, while Yahya Bindir, a software developer, secured third place with a N400,000 prize. Berepele expressed her gratitude to God for her victory and credited her passion for cooking and interest in other cultures for her success.
Berepele thanked the KCCN for providing Nigerians the opportunity to learn about Korean cuisine, saying, “I must commend KCCN; it is not easy bringing out such an amount of money to prepare us during the cooking classes.” She also appreciated the effort to promote Korean culture in Nigeria, highlighting the competition’s fusion of Nigerian and Korean dishes.
Victor Mac-Adonai, inspired by the fictional chef Auguste Gusteau’s mantra “Anyone can cook,” saw the competition as a platform to showcase his culinary skills. He believes that cooking is not just for the elite and that anyone with passion can excel in the kitchen.
Yahya Bindir, who placed third, expressed gratitude to his friends, family, and KCCN for their support throughout the competition. He looks forward to participating in future editions.
KCCN Director Mr. Kim Changki praised the contestants’ enthusiasm for learning about Korean cuisine, emphasizing that the competition fostered cultural exchange between Nigerians and Koreans. He also revealed ongoing collaboration with the Association of Professional Chefs in Nigeria to expand the initiative further.
