The British Embassy Seoul said on the 27th that it held the "UK Seafood Showcase Reception" at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno District, Seoul, on the 26th to highlight the competitiveness of Britain's sustainable premium seafood industry. Britain is a global seafood powerhouse that exports £1.7 billion (about 3.3 trillion won) worth of seafood annually.
This event was hosted by Colin Crooks, the British ambassador to Korea. Major domestic seafood importers and retailers also attended. In particular, chef Edward Lee, who is currently producing a documentary with the BBC on Korean seafood, took part and drew attention.
Chef Edward Lee reinterpreted British ingredients with a Korean sensibility at the showcase, introducing their quality and potential.
Chef Edward Lee presented two signature dishes to guests, reinterpreting premium seafood from Britain's pristine waters with a Korean touch. Representative examples included British whelk avocado muchim salad and gochujang beurre blanc grilled salmon.
The whelk avocado muchim salad featured British whelks with beet and pear, served with a nutty avocado dressing. The gochujang beurre blanc grilled salmon visualized the fusion of the two countries' food cultures by smoking world-renowned Scottish salmon and coating it with a French butter sauce (beurre blanc) infused with Korea's gochujang.
Chef Edward Lee said, "British seafood is a top-tier ingredient that combines the deep flavors offered by the pristine environment of the North Atlantic with a world-class safety management system," adding, "In particular, the British salmon and whelks showcased at this reception achieved a very special harmony with Korea's gochujang and fruits. I hope British seafood will appear more often on the tables of Korean consumers."
Through this event, Britain released various indicators proving its strong seafood industry competitiveness. As of 2022, British seafood is exported to 220 countries worldwide, totaling about 454,000 tons and about £1.7 billion (3.3 trillion won). The British food and beverage industry is one of the country's largest manufacturing sectors, with an annual output of £33 billion (64.5 trillion won).
British seafood is produced in nutrient-rich fishing grounds of the North Atlantic under a strict marine management system. Every step from sea to plate is traceable, and rigorous food safety standards are in place.
British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks said, "British seafood is recognized globally for its quality, flavor, and sustainability," adding, "It is meaningful to introduce British seafood to Korea's culinary and food industries through this event." He added, "As chef Edward Lee has creatively reinterpreted British ingredients into Korean cuisine, we hope this will serve as a catalyst to further raise awareness in the Korean market of the value, product diversity, and quality of British seafood."