By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee

"Members of the Ambassadors' Spouses Association in Seoul (ASAS) participated in a Korean temple food experience program at the Korean Temple Food and Culture Experience Center in Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the occasion of the Jeongwol Daeboreum (the day of the first full moon of the lunar year)," said Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism.

Twenty-one ambassadors' spouses from 17 countries, including the United States, Australia, Bolivia, Hungary, and Japan, cooked and tasted Korean Jeongwol Daeboreum foods such as tricolor herbs and five-grain rice.

At the event, the Korean temple's food culture experience center instructor, Buddhist Monk Ha Kyung explained the customs and origins of the festival, as well as the benefits and cooking process of dried greens. He also emphasized the significance of the traditional cooking method of chopping the herbs by hand.

Mrs. Asako, the wife of Japanese Ambassador to Korea Mizushima Koichi, shared her experience, saying, "In Japan, we eat dango, which is like Korean dumplings, on the full moon, and I felt the cultural similarity between Japan and Korea."

"We don't usually have the opportunity to visit temples, so this visit was very special," she added.

"Korean temple food has a philosophy of making the most of the natural flavors of the ingredients and harmonizing with nature," said Buddhist Monk Mandang, head of Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism. "We hope this event will help foreigners understand the cultural value of Korean food and temple food."