Busan is good

Busan’s Young Chefs Cook Up the City’s Future! “Neo Busan Chef” Project Kick-off Ceremony Held

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will hold a kick-off ceremony today (October 22) at 12:00 p.m. at the Michelin Selected fine-dining restaurant “Ramzy” in Suyeong District for participants of the “Neo Busan Chef Project.”

As a pilot initiative this year, the “Neo Busan Chef Project” is a hands-on educational program designed to foster Busan’s future culinary culture. Leading local chefs will share their expertise and philosophy behind local ingredients, and provide opportunities for networking and collaboration with university students majoring in culinary arts.

The name “Neo” represents “newness” and “innovation,” encapsulating the commitment and vision to discover and nurture next-generation chefs who will lead the evolution of Busan’s culinary scene.

At today’s ceremony, mentor chefs participating in the “Neo Busan Chef Project” — including Executive Chef Lee Gyu-jin of “Ramzy,” CEO Cho Su-hwan of “Le Dohé,” and CEO Hwang Chang-hwan of “Shindo Market / Shindo Lab” — will be joined by professors and 15 students from Youngsan University, Daedong College, and Dong-Eui Institute of Technology.

The event includes an introduction to the project’s purpose, program orientation, and a mini talk among chefs, students, and university faculty on topics such as the value of local ingredients and global culinary trends. Under the theme “Cooking the Future of Busan’s Taste,” participants will experience the art of fine dining firsthand.

The project will run for two months until December, during which participating students will engage in the entire process of course meal development — from planning and cooking to service — under the guidance of professional chefs. Their final outcomes will be presented at the “Neo Chef Dining with the Heroes of Busan” event on December 15.

During the event, students will dedicate their course meals to the “Heroes of Busan” — citizens who have devoted themselves to the city’s safety and well-being — and share evaluations and feedback from culinary experts in a meaningful closing ceremony.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to document the project’s progress through video and written records, sharing the growth stories of the city’s young chefs with the public. Through this initiative, the city aims to enhance the brand value of “Busan, a Culinary City Growing Together with Its Citizens” and solidify its foundation for advancement as a global gastronomic city.

Cho Gyu-yul, Director General of the City Health Bureau, stated, “Through this project, we hope young local chefs will grow into ‘storytelling culinary talents’ who go beyond cooking skills to understand and share the philosophy and stories behind local ingredients with citizens.” He added, “We will continue to strive to make Busan a ‘city remembered for its taste’ through such creative and challenging initiatives.”