“The Reason the World Seeks Gim” Moon Se-yoon and Seo Kyung-duk Share the History of K-Food “Gim”

From the Silla era to innovation in Gwangyang in 1640… the truth behind the ‘black semiconductor’ that captivated the world

The ‘Korea Gim’ has risen to the forefront of global K-food, taking over tables across roughly 120 countries worldwide. Behind that dazzling leap lies a sweeping history stretching back hundreds of years. On the 22nd, Sungshin Women’s University Professor Seo Kyung-duk and broadcaster Moon Se-yoon teamed up with Dongwon F&B to roll out the multilingual video ‘The History of Gim, Why the World Looks for It’, drawing intense attention from netizens around the globe.

Produced in about four minutes in both Korean and English, the video traces the origins of Gim, which took shape as far back as the Silla period, while also shining a dense spotlight on the hidden backstory of Gim aquaculture that first began in 1640 in South Jeolla Province’s Gwangyang. In particular, historical documentation explaining how the ‘thin rectangular shape’ that people consume today came to be is more than enough to spark readers’ intellectual curiosity. The background behind how Gim, beyond being a simple side dish, has demonstrated overwhelming competitiveness in the global market was also covered in depth.

K-Food ambassador that thrilled 120 countries… Seo Kyung-duk and Moon Se-yoon launch the ‘Global Gim Project’

Professor Seo Kyung-duk, planning the project, said, “At the moment when Korean cuisine is creating a global syndrome, we wanted to imprint Gim’s true history on the entire world, down to the smallest detail.” Starting with this history episode, he plans to unveil follow-up series one after another, including a culture segment and a global segment, and he laid out his firm determination to drive the ‘Gim awareness campaign’ forward with impact.

Moon Se-yoon’s pride, which he brings through narration in Korean, is also distinctive. Having long shown off his special love for Korean food, he said, “It is an endless honor to deliver, in my own voice, the great footprints of Gim, a unique part of Korea’s food culture,” adding, “I hope that many viewers at home and abroad will join this meaningful journey.”