Hi, I’m Taeyeon. Nice to meet you! I’m a Korean native and have been professionally trained as a chef & instructor in Korean cuisine. But did you know, that has not always been the case?
As a true millennial, I had quite the quarter-life crisis myself too. During this quarter-life crisis, I decided to take a leap of faith from the corporate to the culinary world. Because cooking was where my heart was and I wanted to share my love for Korean food with you and the rest of the world!
So I founded The Kimchi Institute (김치 한식문화 교육원), to bring together my family traditions and professional expertise in Korean cuisine. My specializations are Korean Royal Cuisine, Korean Temple Food, and Korean Tea Ceremonies.
Throughout my career, I have been engaging in various of gastrodiplomacy initiatives, especially with Korean Food Promotion Institute for the global Hansik campaign. For my full professional resume, please check my LinkedIn page.
So what are you waiting for? Join me on our incredible journey in Korean cuisine!
2025
Awarded Korean Minister of Culture’s Commendation
2024
Featured on Magyar Konyha, Nők Lapja, Arirang and various media oulets in Hungary & Korea
Published 「Seoul-Budapest」, Korean food & Hungarian wine pairing book in cooperation with Dr.Agnes Csiba-Herczeg, a renowned Hungarian wine expert
<Korean Cultural Center of Hungary> – Korean cooking demonstration at Gourmet Festival in Budapest, Hungary – Korean cooking demonstration at KoreaON Festival & MOKKOJI Festival – “Korean Food Week” Menu consulting for Waldorf Gastro & More LTD.
<Korean Embassy of Netherlands> – Korean cooking demonstration at Korean Culture Festival 2024
2023
Featured on Nők Lapja, Magyar Hang (Hungary), Alkmaar Centraal, De Uitkomst (Netherlands), World Korean News, and other various media outlets
<Korean Food Promotion Institute> – Korean Culinary Ambassador to Korean Embassy of the Czech Republic
<The Netherlands> – Introduced Korean cuisine to the dutch audience in a collaboration with Jan Janszn. Weltevree Foundation
<Korean Cultural Center of Hungary> – Korean fermentation workshop for chefs / food media – Kimchi Day events including Kimjang workshop for diplomats – Professional judge for Hansik Contest 2024 (Korean cooking contest) – Organization of Korean culinary events featuring Venerable Jeong Kwan, the world-renowned chef
2022
Featured on TV2 (Hungary), NEWSIS & Korea Herald (Korea)
– Founded 「The Kimchi Institute」 in The Netherlands
– Korean Food Promotion Institute: Korean Culinary Ambassador to Korean Cultural Centers in Budapest, Hungary & Brussels, Belgium
– Showcased Korean cuisine on TV2 Hungary
2019 – 2021
<Korean Food Promotion Institute> – Korean Culinary Ambassador to Rangsit University, Thailand – Curricula development for Overseas Korean Culinary EducationⅠ& Ⅱ
<Korean Temple Food Center> – Promotion of Korean Temple Food
2017 – 2018
Featured on Korea Herald & SBS (Korea)
AT (Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp.) Kazakhstan: Collaboration with Daniya (@daniya_alt), a Food Influencer in Kazakhstan for Korean Food Promotion
– Korean culinary workshops for various organizations and institutions: Democracy Prep Public School, ASEAN – Korea Centre, Cornell, 3M, Cisco, IKEA Korea, etc.
– Menu consulting for restaurateurs from Australia, Philippines, and Russia