I recently visited the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines and it felt like I jumped headfirst into a vibrant, food-filled comic book universe. Created in partnership with the National Asian Culture Center Foundation and Chonnam National University, “Sikgaek: The Journey of Tasting Korea” transforms Hur Young-man’s legendary 2002 manhwa into a multi-floor, hands-on culinary adventure and I was more than ready to let the main character, chef Sungchan, take me on a delicious quest across Korean culture.
A Journey with Sungchan
My journey to K-Food began right on the ground floor, standing beside a physical setup of Sungchan’s iconic vegetable truck. Before diving into the history, I stepped into an AI-powered booth that scanned my features and rendered a personalized Sikgaek-style comic avatar. I had to admit that I look weird in the generated photo but the over all experience is fun. Seeing myself transformed into a manhwa character set the perfect tone for the rest of the visit. After you take the photo, your character will appear beside Sungchan!
Archives and sketches
I wasn’t able to check the the library section. There’s no exact map of the exhibition so I honestly didn’t know that there’s a display at the library. Based on KCC’s post, the library is also filled with digital interactive walls that allows you to flip through archived sketches, preliminary drafts, and behind-the-scenes materials that revealed how Hur Young-man brought his comic to life over two decades ago.
Hansang
As I climbed up the stairwells, lines of famous quotes from the comic adorned the walls, it offers thoughtful insights into the emotional connection between food, memory, and Korean identity. Reaching the third floor, I was greeted by a striking visual white box with small windows, it’s the showcase of hansang. Hansang is the traditional practice of serving a complete, balanced Korean table all at once. The ASMR in this area is pretty strong having sounds of chopping and cooking surrounding the vicinity while you check on the display. I’ve had my own fair share of experiencing numerous traditional Korean food and events and this showcase reminds me of those moments.
Food and Four Seasons of Korea
The exhibit broke down the essential harmony behind five core components of Korean cooking: rice, kimchi, seafood, jang (fermented pastes and sauces), and fresh vegetables, demonstrating how each element balances flavor and nutrition. This is probably my favorite exhibit because this is also KCC’s most interactive exhibition to date (based on the previous exhibits I visited in KCC). Aside from that, activities are spread across the building so you have more to see compared to their previous exhibitions.
The main event waited on the fifth floor, where interactive displays allowed visitors to touch, play, and learn about the stories behind those five essential ingredients. Engaging with the history of fermentation and seasonal harvests gave me a much deeper respect for the craft behind everyday Korean comfort food.
There’s a screen where you can make your kimchi, cook your own rice, learn more about seafood and jang. All these interactive activities are really fun to do that even adults like us really enjoyed playing with it. My favorite among these displays is the bap (rice) zone because it reminds me of the time I visited the set of Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace) in Jeju Island. Plus the fact that I recently watched the dramas ‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’ and ‘Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.’ At the end of the exhibit, you’ll be sent off by a cute four-season wall display that walks you from fall, winter, autumn and spring.
Special Souvenir
Before leaving the center, make sure to answer the survey located at the ground floor of the center so you can get your DIY Sikgaek keyring!
Visitor Information
Exhibition Dates: November 6, 2026 – February 27, 2027
Operating Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines
