As the global K-food craze continues to gain popularity, Los Angeles will host a Kimchi-making demonstration and sales festival.

Hanmaru Mart announced on the 4th that it will hold a three-day event, the “Hanmaru Mart 3-Day Market”, from December 6 to 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Convention Room located at 1547 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90006.

Kelly Jung, the CEO of Hanmaru Mart, who hosted an interview at the company, said, “We organized this event to promote the charm and diversity of Korean food, achieving a win-win effect of revitalizing the Korean food industry and traditional culture.” She added, “It is an event that anyone interested in Korean traditional and ready-made foods can enjoy.”

The highlight of the event is the participation of Soonmi Lee, the head of the Traditional Food Research Institute and a renowned expert in Korean cuisine, who will conduct live kimchi-making demonstrations. The Institute is a Korean company that has successfully branded kimchi. Lee’s culinary philosophy centers on creating “healthy food.” She explained, “I developed a sauce that allows anyone to make kimchi with just vegetables about 15 years ago. At this demonstration, we’ll showcase authentic Korean kimchi using sauces and napa cabbage directly sourced from Korea.”

The demonstration will include various types of kimchi, such as white kimchi, young radish kimchi, pickled cucumbers, cubed radish kimchi, and water kimchi. These will be made on-site and sold to consumers on a first-come, first-served basis.

CEO Jung added, “In October, I visited several regions in Korea, including Cheongju and Gangwon Province, to establish connections with Korean food companies.” Four Korean food companies will set up booths at this event, alongside diverse activities like cosmetics sales and coffee tasting. Lee also mentioned, “We will hold tasting sessions and sales for dishes I developed, such as tteokbokki, kimchi rice bowls, and mushroom rice bowls.”

Hanmaru Mart will offer bonus items to customers who make purchases during the 3-Day Market. Customers spending over $100 will receive fried squid, those spending over $200 will get Lactofit, and those spending over $300 will receive a box of roasted seaweed.

The event will feature not only demonstrations but also various activities. CEO Jung announced a singing contest, where the first-place winner will receive a California Blossom gift set and a gift card, the second-place winner will get a box of black garlic and a gift card, and the third-place winner will receive a box of roasted seaweed and a gift card. On December 6, a traditional Korean pansori performance is also scheduled.

Lee emphasized, “It’s no exaggeration to say that my years of culinary research and development are encapsulated in this kimchi. If the demonstration is successful, I plan to visit the U.S. regularly to offer cooking lectures and classes.”

CEO Jung concluded, “With a strong sense of responsibility to introduce Korea’s diverse traditional foods, we plan to expand the event’s scale to include more companies and a broader range of foods as it grows.”

For inquiries, contact: (213) 999-5159

<Hongyong Park>