CreatripTeam

The 2025 Namdo International Gastronomy Expo (NICE 2025) in Mokpo spotlights 12 traditional Namdo masters who present live cooking, talks, and tastings each weekend to showcase the region’s culinary heritage. Chief among them, Master Cheon Su-bong—recognized as Namdo’s No.1 artisan—emphasizes making food by hand, preserving natural flavors with low-temperature drying, and matching seasonal colors and ingredients to evoke the region’s spirit. He describes Namdo food as “gemiji-da (게미지다)”—a local word meaning irresistibly savory and craveable. The expo aims to connect generations and global audiences to Namdo’s food culture, promote sustainable practices, and inspire young chefs by demonstrating local ingredients and traditional techniques through modern storytelling. NICE 2025 runs through October 26 at the Mokpo Cultural & Arts Center.