Monday, 13 July 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The visit of the delegation from Hyejeon University, South Korea, to Medan is expected to become more than just a moment for knowledge exchange in the culinary sector. Medan Mayor Rico Waas has called for the delegation's presence to be utilized as an opportunity to introduce various outstanding products from Medan's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs/UMKM) to the international market.
Rico Waas conveyed this hope during a meeting with the Regional Board (BPD) of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of North Sumatra regarding the planned visit of the Hyejeon University delegation and the implementation of the K-Food Global Culinary Challenge 2026 at the Medan Mayor's official residence on Friday, July 10, 2026.During the meeting, Rico Waas stated that the Medan City Government would provide comprehensive support for the entire series of activities. He expressed hope that the involvement of academics, students, and culinary industry professionals from South Korea would create positive impacts on tourism promotion, cultural exchange, and the strengthening of the local economy.
Rico Waas views the Medan Regional Handicraft Council (Dekranasda) Gallery as a strategic location to showcase the potential of the city's creative economy. He believes the gallery can serve as a display space featuring various high-quality products created through the creativity of Medan's residents.
Therefore, Rico Waas requested that the entire Hyejeon University delegation visit the Dekranasda Gallery during their stay in Medan. He wants the South Korean guests to directly experience and discover various selected products, including handicrafts, fashion items, and traditional Medan snacks produced by local MSME entrepreneurs."Let them get to know Medan through our MSME products. There are many high-quality handicrafts and snacks that deserve to be introduced to international guests," said Rico Waas.
In addition to showcasing creative economy products, Rico Waas hopes the visit will also become an opportunity to introduce the cultural richness of Medan. He emphasized that cultural diversity, including traditional clothing from Malay, Batak, and other ethnic communities, represents an identity that strengthens Medan's appeal as an international tourism destination.Furthermore, he suggested that the Hyejeon University delegation visit several historical tourism destinations that have become landmarks of Medan. These include Tjong A Fie Mansion, Maimun Palace, and the Kebun Bunga area.
To support the delegation's mobility during their exploration of Medan, the Medan City Government will provide an electric bus. This facility is expected to make the group's journey more comfortable while providing direct insight into the city's tourism potential.According to Rico Waas, MSMEs operating in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese cuisine sectors can benefit from this exchange, particularly through gaining new experiences and insights into the development of the food industry.
"Through this event, local entrepreneurs can learn about current culinary trends, including Korean street-food concepts that are currently popular among many people," explained Rico Waas.Rico Waas considers such cooperation an important opportunity to broaden local entrepreneurs' perspectives regarding global culinary innovations. In addition, the event could create new opportunities for collaboration in developing Medan's food and beverage industry.
Chairman of the BPD PHRI North Sumatra, Melky Maydiroy Waas, stated that a total of 33 delegates from Hyejeon University, consisting of students, professors, and master chefs, are expected to arrive in North Sumatra from July 13 to 16, 2026.
During their stay in Medan, the delegates will participate in various programs, including visits to universities and schools, seminars, workshops, cooking demonstrations, Korean culinary exhibitions, and educational roadshows at several vocational high schools (SMK).The series of activities will conclude with the K-Food Global Culinary Challenge 2026, which will be held on July 16, 2026, at Hotel Santika Medan.
Melky hopes that the collaboration between Hyejeon University and various partners in North Sumatra will further strengthen relations between Indonesia and South Korea, particularly in the fields of education and culinary development. He also expects the cooperation to create broader opportunities for the growth of tourism, hospitality, culinary industries, and MSMEs in Medan.He believes that the presence of the international delegation represents an important opportunity for Medan to establish new cooperation networks and introduce regional potential to a global audience. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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