TV personality Hong Jin-kyung talks with former KBS TV presenter Son Mi-na on her YouTube channel. Captured from YouTube By KTimes Model-turned-TV personality Hong Jin-kyung announced that she opened a Korean snack shop in Spain, offering popular light meals such as gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and noodles. On Thursday, a video titled "Why Did Hong Jin-kyung Open a Korean Snack Shop in Spain?" was posted on her YouTube channel, RealStudyKing.
In the video, Hong shared her motivation, saying, "After running a food company for 25 years, I have always dreamed of starting a Korean restaurant franchise to introduce our cuisine to the world. A fateful meeting with former KBS TV presenter Son Mi-na led to the opening of this snack shop in Spain." She added, "It's a mix of excitement and worry as I'm starting something new in an unfamiliar place, but I'm preparing with all my heart.
I hope that our passion for spreading Korean cuisine reaches not only our subscribers but also people around the world." The video also shows Hong meeting Son Mi-na at Barcelona Airport. Son said, "I've been importing and selling olive oil from Spain.
When Hong Jin-kyung appeared on a YouTube channel and recommended olive oil as a product, her sincerity shone through. I felt I had to give her a bottle of olive oil as a gift, so I called her, and we had a deep conversation during our first meeting." Son said that Spain is an intriguing opportunity because the market for Korean food here is still largely untapped.
"There is demand and interest, but no major companies have successfully entered the market. Unfortunately, some opportunists have filled the gap with misinformation, like claiming kimchi is a Chinese sauce," Son said. "That's why it's crucial to approach this with a sense of mission.
Spain could be a land of opportunity." Hong Jin-kyung says she opened a snack bar in Spain. Captured from Hong Jin-kyung's YouTube channel With Son's help, Hong successfully navigated the complex permitting process.
She also met with business partners, personally showcasing Korean dishes like fried rice and dumplings, which were well-received. When the high cost of mango bingsu (shaved ice with red beans) in Korea was mentioned, someone even suggested creating "kimchi ice cream." Additionally, Son expressed her plan to introduce Korean food to Montserrat Monastery, saying, "I want to bring Hong Jin-kyung and my Korean cuisine to the monastery.
I believe the chances are high. It was difficult just to arrange this meeting, especially since it's their summer vacation, but they agreed to come." This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.
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