KOREAN NET

The National Palace Museum of Korea from Nov. 20 to Feb. 2 will host the exhibition "Joseon's Royal Cuisine: A Table for Food, Reverence and Sharing." Shown are replicas of the table setup of a royal meal and silver utensils.

By Gil Kyuyoung

Photos = National Palace Museum of Korea

An exhibition in Seoul sheds light on the culinary culture of the royal family of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

The Korea Heritage Service on Nov. 19 announced that the exhibition "Joseon's Royal Cuisine: A Table for Food, Reverence and Sharing" will run from Nov. 20 through Feb. 2.

Displayed are over 200 artifacts including records, paintings, dishes and cooking utensils related to Joseon's royal cuisine, as well as replicas of royal banquet tables and their meal setups.

The first part shows how ingredients carefully prepared by laypeople were made into meals for the king's table by royal chefs, in addition to the signboard of the palace kitchen, painting of chefs cooking and decoration of the kitchen with tableware and utensils.

The second part features a banquet held in 1892 at Gyeongbokgung Palace to celebrate the 30th year of King Gojong's reign and his 41st birthday. It also offers a vivid display of royal gastronomy through models of royal cuisine made by the Korean Royal Cuisine Culture Foundation based on Uigwe (Royal Protocols of Joseon Dynasty).

Other attractions include media art showing royal cuisine and interactive video spaces like "What Kind of King Am I?"; "Myers-Brigg Type Indicator for Food Preferences"; and "Making Royal Banquet Food."

The museum said, "Through this special exhibition, we will strive to widely promote relatively unknown aspects of royal cuisine and actively disseminate the value of royal cultural heritage both at home and abroad."

This is the official poster for the exhibition "Joseon’s Royal Cuisine: A Table for Food, Reverence and Sharing."

gilkyuyoung@korea.kr