The Korean Cultural Center in Brazil will present "In Search of Hansik," a comprehensive exhibition celebrating Korean cuisine, from November 16, 2025, to February 1, 2026. The exhibition, created in collaboration with Editora Melhoramentos, aims to introduce Brazilian audiences to the rich culinary traditions of South Korea through an immersive cultural experience.
The exhibition draws its inspiration from the photo-book "Coreia do Sul: Cores & Sabores" (South Korea: Colors & Flavors), written by renowned food critic and culinary writer Carlos Eduardo Oliveira. Published by Editora Melhoramentos with support from the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil, the book serves as the foundation for showcasing the depth and diversity of hansik, traditional Korean cuisine, to Brazilian visitors.
In his compelling work, Oliveira explores the intimate connection between culture and cuisine, noting that there is no more authentic way to understand a culture's soul than through its flavors. The author draws fascinating parallels between South Korean and Brazilian food cultures, highlighting shared characteristics such as abundance, warmth, family recipes passed down through generations, hearty dishes, and remarkable diversity of tastes. His journey through South Korea took him to restaurants, markets, local producers, and hidden neighborhood favorites in pursuit of hansik's culinary gems.
The book chronicles Oliveira's discoveries of countless Korean delicacies, ranging from street food and traditional drinks to sweets, generous meals, quick snacks, and foods that nourish both body and soul. These culinary experiences reveal the richness of Korea's millennia-old culinary tradition, where flavors span the spectrum from sweet and salty to sour and sweet-and-sour, creating rich and succulent taste profiles that reflect unique customs and celebrations of food's power to nourish physically and symbolically.
"Coreia do Sul: Cores & Sabores" features 18 detailed step-by-step recipes that Oliveira describes as "true culinary masterpieces." Among these signature dishes are kimchi, the incomparable spicy napa cabbage that appears at every Korean meal; tteokbokki, chewy rice cakes cooked in gochujang-based sauce; bibimbap, steaming hot rice served with vegetables and meat in a traditional stone bowl; japchae, sweet-potato noodles that provide an excellent vegetarian option; and hotteok, sweet pancakes perfect for enjoying on rainy afternoons.
The exhibition will be held at the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil, located at Av. Paulista, 460, Bela Vista, São Paulo. Operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The exhibition welcomes visitors of all ages with free admission, though entry is subject to venue capacity limitations.
This cultural initiative represents part of the growing global interest in Korean culture, which has expanded beyond literature, cinema, television series, and pop music to encompass the country's rich culinary heritage. The exhibition offers Brazilian audiences an opportunity to explore Korean food culture through both visual and educational elements, potentially inspiring visitors to experience hansik firsthand and appreciate the cultural significance behind each dish.
