International slow food festival kicks off in South Korea in October

NAMYANGJU, South Korea – An international festival promoting the slow food movement as well as an all-round healthy lifestyle will take place in this provincial city in October, organizers said Thursday, providing a chance to enjoy farm-to-table foods and fun learning experiences.

Under the theme “Good Food, Good Life,” the Namyangju Slow Life International Festival will be held for 10 days starting Oct. 8 in the eponymous city located about 30 kilometers east of Seoul.

The festival encompasses three values — health, the environment and empathy — in order to create and share happiness, an organizing committee official said.

Delegates and tourists from some 40 countries along with those from throughout South Korea will take part in the festivities, during which various programs consisting of concerts, tasting sessions and other hands-on activities will be offered, according to the organizers.

A food show starring some of the most popular chefs from South Korea will be held during the festival, and visitors will also be able to appease their palates with traditional foods and beverages from a diverse mix of cultures.

The fair is the second of its kind to be held in Namyangju city, after it launched the Asio Gusto festival earlier in 2013. The city has since changed the name of the program and decided to make it a regular event to be run every two years.