The Tongyeong Municipal Chapter (head: Mo Gyeong-chaek) of Gyeongsangnam-do hosted a North Korean food tasting session and a photo exhibition on the reality of North Korea at Gangguan Culture Plaza on November 9.

Foods provided that day were made by North Korean defectors living in Tongyong. Sokdojeon ricecake, a major food in North Korea, as well as Kkojangtteok ricecake, corn soup, tofu rice, and water kimchi opened the eyes of the citizens.

According to a North Korean defector who showed the process of cooking on site, a characteristic of North Korean foods is that they are not sweet because they do not use sugar, reflecting the difficult situation in North Korea.

 “I thought the foods from North Korea will be completely different from ours since we are very different in terms of culture and language, but I was really surprised because they tasted so much better than expected. I felt that we’re still the same ethnic group even though we are separated right now,” said Choi Gyeong-ae (Gwangdo-myeon), who tried the foods of North Korea.

Next to the food tasting site, photos that remind one of the reality of separation, such as those about the ROKS Cheonan sinking and missiles by North Korea, were exhibited, drawing the attention of citizens.