Jeonbuk State announced that it held the “2026 Jeonbuk-Style Public Diplomacy Festival” from the 15th to the 19th in Barcelona, Spain, a world-renowned city for gastronomy and tourism.

 

The event was organized in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Barcelona and the Barcelona Municipal Institute of Markets(IMMB). It was designed to showcase Jeonbuk’s culinary resources, traditional culture, and excellence in the food industry to local residents.

 

Jeonbuk State, in collaboration with relevant organizations, including the Korean Food Promotion Institute and the Jeonbuk International Cooperation Agency, operated a Jeonbuk promotional pavilion and a cultural experience center to showcase the region’s tourism resources and high-quality food products. Hands-on activities such as trying on hanbok(traditional Korean clothing), making traditional Korean paper crafts, and playing traditional games attracted a steady stream of local visitors and helped raise interest in Korean culture.

 

As the final event on the 19th, a Jeonju bibimbap cooking class and a tasting of Jeonbuk’s traditional fermented sauces were held for local students at CETT, the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy at the University of Barcelona. The students sampled a variety of traditional fermented sauces from Jeonbuk and learned about their distinctive characteristics, while also making bibimbap and experiencing the appeal of Jeonbuk’s food culture.

The event served as an opportunity to showcase Jeonbuk’s cuisine and traditional culture in a world-renowned gastronomic city, introduce the region’s high-quality food products to local consumers and future food service industry professionals, and expand opportunities for future entry into the European market.

 

Kim Jinhae, Jeonbuk State’s Ambassador for International Relations, said, “We were able to showcase Jeonbuk’s cuisine and traditional culture in Barcelona, a world-renowned gastronomic city, and highlight the potential of the region’s food industry. We will continue to expand international exchanges by utilizing Jeonbuk’s cultural and food resources and pursue practical public diplomacy initiatives that support the region’s industries in expanding into overseas markets.”