On the 1st, people line up to buy Hwangnam Bread, the official sponsor of the APEC summit in Gyeongju. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

North Gyeongsang Gov. Lee Cheol-woo said on the 3rd that President Lee Jae-myung presented "Hwangnambbang," a specialty of Gyeongju, to the leaders who attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang.

In a Facebook post that day, Lee wrote, "Chinese President Xi Jinping told his aides that Gyeongju has developed a lot since his 2009 visit and that Gyeongju Hwangnambbang tastes good," adding, "So, at the president's direction, we presented Hwangnambbang to the leaders of each country."

The presidential office says on the 31st that President Lee Jae-myung gave 200 boxes of Hwangnam Bread to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese delegation visiting Korea for the APEC summit. /Courtesy of Presidential Office

He continued, "U.S. White House Spokesperson (Karoline Leavitt) also visited Gyeongju's Hwangnidan-gil and heaped praise on Korean foods such as tteokbokki," adding, "It was clear that an era is dawning in which K-food is captivating people around the world." He added, "The Gyeongju APEC has given a big boost to the Korean Wave."

Hwangnambbang is a specialty that began in 1939 in Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju. A thin crust is filled generously with red bean paste. The first president, the late Choi Young-hwa, developed it by applying confectionery techniques learned in Japan.

On the afternoon of the 31st of last month, a tourist dressed beautifully in hanbok takes a commemorative photo on Hwangridan-gil in Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju. Hwangridan-gil combines Gyeongju's Hwangnam-dong with Seoul's Gyeongnidan-gil to mean "Gyeongnidan-gil of Hwangnam-dong." It is popular as a hot spot with a variety of content, including snacks such as 10-won bread, Cheomseongdae bread, and jjondeugi, as well as eateries, cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, hanbok rental shops, photo studios, and tarot and fortune-telling cafes. /Courtesy of News1

Hwangnambbang passed a review by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was selected as the official dessert for this APEC summit, and it is being served to attendees at major events and official meetings. In a CNN interview in the United States on the 24th of last month (local time), President Lee said, "If you come to APEC in Gyeongju, nine times out of 10 you will definitely have this bread."

According to the presidential office, Xi told President Lee inside the APEC summit venue on the 31st of last month, "I enjoyed the Hwangnambbang." Lee then broke into a smile and said, "Thank you."

Presidential office Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said, "On the 30th, President Lee, in a show of sincere welcome to Xi, wrapped freshly made warm Hwangnambbang in a Korean-style cloth and delivered it with a message, 'I hope you enjoy the taste of Gyeongju.'" Kang said, "President Lee instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to present Hwangnambbang to the delegations of all APEC member countries except China."

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