Figure skating star Kim Yu-na will promote Korean food, or hansik, in the hopes of making it as popular and well known as she became through her feats at the World Championships and the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MIFAFF) said Wednesday that it appointed the 19-year-old as an honorary ambassador to promote a variety of Korean dishes worldwide.
"I will make every effort to promote the taste and grace of Korean food so that people around the world can enjoy it," Kim told a press conference held on the sidelines of the International Food Industry Exhibition, Seoul 2010 at KINTEX located in Goyang, northwest of Seoul.
Kim is known to prefer Korean food when she goes overseas for training or competitions.
Among her favorites are "galbi" and "kimchi jjigae" ― braised short ribs and pot stew made with kimchi.
"Just as people around the world have been fascinated by Kim's beautiful jumps and fantastic performances, I expect that they will be attracted by the charm of Korean foods thanks to Kim's efforts," Agriculture Minister Chang Tae-pyong said.
Under Chang's stewardship, the MIFAFF has gone all-out of late to globalize local dishes by staging campaigns aimed at raising awareness of hansik or helping local corporations advance into overseas markets.
However, the ministry said that it would not overexploit Kim for the scheme.
"We understand that Kim is not an entertainer but a sportswoman who has to train. Accordingly, we plan not to burden her with a busy schedule or lots of events related to the promotion," MIFAFF official Moon Jee-in said.
"Instead, she will take part in some media conferences particularly with foreign journalists. Plus, we will be allowed to use her pictures in globalizing Korean food."
Kim basked in the limelight by sweeping aside figure skating rivals over the past few years. In spite of many challenges on her tiny shoulders, she also gave a record-breaking performance in the 2010 Winter Olympics to top the podium early this year.
In particular, she shattered the time-honored jinx that world champions fail to win the gold in the Olympics, thus becoming the country's first medalist of any color in figure skating.
Her popularity is not limited to Korea - she is now a global celebrity. Late last month, Time Magazine picked her as one of the "World's Most Influential People." Kim placed second in the "Heroes" section.
Topic: Kim Yu-na (김연아) (Korean figure skater) (Read 71373 times)