Visiting Diplomatic Corps. over 50 peoples including 6 ambassadors & many senior diplomats confirmed vividly with their eyes that Gwangju, Jeollanamdo Province, is a suzerain city of Kimchi in the nation through their trip to the 23rd Gwangju World Kimchi Festival.

Visiting Diplomatic Corps. pose with Gwangju Metropolitan City mayor Yoon Jang-hyun (third from right) at the Kimchi Town, veune of the 23rd Gwangju World Kimchi Festival. From right, Krygyz Mme. Beshimov, Kazakhstan Amb. Bekishev, Mayor Yoon, Tajikistan Amb. Yusuf, Jordan Amb. Adel couple and last but not least Belarus Amb. Andrei Popkov couple (back row).

Invited by Honorable Yoon Jang-hyun from Gwangju Metropolitan City mayor in close collaboration with The NDNnews(www.ndnnews.co.kr) as a media partner & The Korea Culture Ambassador Friendship Association as an affiliate cultural organization of The NDNnews which promotes regional trip programs for the Diplomatic Corps., about 55 senior diplomats including Excellencies & Madames shined and graced the official opening ceremony of the 23rd Gwangju World Kimchi Festival 2016 which took place in the area of the Gwangju Kimchi Town on the afternoon, Nov. 18th(Friday).

Gwangju Metropolitan City mayor Yoon Jang-hyun couple tasting Kimchi during the festival.

With a catchphrase of "Omae! Gwangju Kimchi, this year's kimchi-making for the winter at Gwangju!", this year's 23rd Gwangju World Kimchi Festival runs until Nov. 22nd(Tuesday) with a variety programs such as kimchi experience programs, cooking classes, competition programs, exhibition events, special events such as oversea buyer invitation international kimchi conference and kimchi master academy etc.

In particular, general citizens who reserved in advance, can take part in the prepared kimchi-making events for their winter until 9th Dec. at the Kimchi Town with reasonable price over 30% and Gwangju Metropolitan City's famtour invitation for foreign ambassadors & senior diplomats and worldwide famous 28 chefs invitation from Italy, China & France etc. who take part in the kimchi application cooking events, are expected to contribute greatly to the excellence publicity of Gwangju Kimchi and its globalization, according to officials involved in this year's kimchi festival at Gwangju Metropolitan City.

Mayor Yoon couple (second & third from left) raising kimchi which was compouned at the opening ceremony.

Kazakhstan Amb. Dulat Bakishev, Panama Amb. Ruben Eloy Arosemena Valdes, Kyrgyz Amb. Askar Beshimov, Tajikistan Amb. Yusuf Sharifzoda, Belarus Amb. Andrei Popkov, Jordan Amb. Adel Adaile received special spotlights with their madames at the official opening ceremony while they upgraded the atmosphere of the 23rd Gwangju World Kimchi Festival in addition to the attendences from U.S. Embassy Minister-Counsellor Mr. Ross G. Kreamer, China Gwangju Consul General Mr. Sun Xianyu, and Greece deputy head mission Ms. Stavroula Valia Pentarvani.

From right, Tajkistan Amb. Yusuf and Kyrgyz, Jordan & Belarus Mmes who take part in kimchi-making during the festival.

Among hot festival atmosphere packed with many spectators, Gwangju World Kimchi Festival organizing committee chairman Mr. Nam Seong-woo said by his welcoming remarks that he expects this year's Gwangju World Kimchi Festival will be smoothly proceeded & successfully wrapped up, arousing harmony among Gwangju citizens and from around the world and assemblyman Mr. Chang Byung-wan promised to support Kimchi industry in close collaboration with government related ministries so that Gwangju can take root firmly as a real mecca of kimchi culture.

Honorable Gwangju city mayor Yoon Jang-hyun declared the opening of the 23rd Gwangju World Kimchi Festival, shouting "Welcome to Gwangju! Enjoy Kimchi Festival!" In order to spread Koreans' Kimchi as a new food which fascinates citizens' appetite of the world in addition to its industrialization, Gwangju Metropolitan City has been hosting its Gwangju World Kimchi Festival during last consecutive 23 years since 1995.

Group photo sesession with Gwangsan District mayor Min Hyung-bae(center) in front of Gwangsan District Office.

In that context, honorable City mayor Yoon Jang-hyun from Gwangju Metropolitan City invited Ambassadors, their Madames and senior diplomats from each embassies in Seoul to the 23rd Gwangju World Kimchi Festival on Nov. 18th(Friday) by way of KTX train so that Diplomatic Corps. can experience Kimchi through its experience events, participation, marketing, competition, exhibition, performance etc.

From left, Jordan Mme. & Amb. Adel couple inspecting Gwangju Kia Motor manufacturing lines.

Following an official ceremony of the 23rd Gwangju World Kimchi Festival, visiting diplomatic corps. dropped by Kimchi museum and exhibition venues to see at firsthand how Kimchi culture had been handed down from ancient times.

As their first tour schedule after arriving at Gwangju Songjeong station by means of KTX train from Seoul in the morning, visiting diplomat corps. dropped by Songjeong traditional market and visited Gwangsan district office to hear about Gwangsan district's investment environment from district mayor Min Hyung-bae.

Panama Mme. Ana Sosa (center) posing with Kimchi masters during the festival at the Kimchi Town.

After the lunch, visiting Diplomatic Corps. visited Gwangju Kia Motor company factory as their first schedule to see at firsthand press factory, car body factory, coating factory, assembly factory. last test etc. Kia Gwangju factory is a hometown of Soul, Carens and Sportage car brands, according to Kia Motor officials. As their last visit destination, visiting diplomatic corps. chose The Asia Culture Center, Asia's cultural window to the world which serves as the cultural complex center where Asian cultural exchange and collaboration takes place by promoting the creation, exhibition, performance, and distribution of cultural production etc.

Greece deputy head mission Ms. Stavroula Valia Pentarvani (third from left) poses with spectators at the Kimchi Town.

For the visiting diplomatic corps. it was most impressed during their trip to Gwangju World Kimchi Festival that Honorable City mayor Yoon Jang-hyun from Gwangju Metropolitan City stressed that Kimchi is newly reborn as a new food which fascinates citizens' appetite of the world.