The Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN) has on Saturday, March 28th, 2026 marked the graduation of 13 students from its K-Pop Academy simultaneously with the 3rd edition of Korean Hansik Contest.
While the graduation was to graduate the 13 students who completed the about eight weeks lessons on K-Pop in the KCCN’s K-Pop Academy, the Hansik contest, with the theme:’ “The Soul of Hansik” focused on Jang-based Korean Food.
The twin event witnessed performances from the students and other K-Pop group.
The event also featured Hansik exhibition, photobooth, K-pop, chopsticks challenge, raffle draw, games among others with participants and winners carting aways a lot of fabulous prizes, courtesy KCCN.
One of the K-Pop Academy graduates, Amina Jimoh said it was an opportunity to learn K-Pop dance and the life of Korean musians.
According to her, the about eight weeks lessons were fun
“The teachers were kind and considerate, they would not shame or frustrate you. They guide the students in a friendly and lovely way to enhance learning.
“I really appreciate the KCCN for the opportunity to learn a lot about K-Pop, dance steps and body movements,” Jimoh said.
HammerTimes News Online reports that other students like Dupe Matti and Miracle Moses expressed gratitude to KCCN and encourage others to enroll in the K-Pop class.
Meanwhile, Mr Victor Mac-adonai, emerged the winner of the third edition of the 2026 ‘Hansik’ (Korean food) contest final round.
Mac-adonai beat beat about seven others and carted home a 40 litre LG fridge.
HammerTimes News Online also reports that the competition was based on Jang Korean Sauces that featured Korean foods tasting such as Jeyuk bokkeum spicy pork stir-fry), Kongnamul Muchim (seasoned soybean sprouts), Kimchi Jjigae(Reddish Kimchi stew).
Others were Doenjang Jjigae ( soybean paste stew), Maekjeo (Doenjang-marinated pork) among others.
While Ms Faith Oluwasegun emerged first runner up winning 42 litre LG microwave oven, Ms Favour Datiloe came third and went home with blender and airflyer.
The overall winner, Mac-adonai, said he was so passionate about Korean culture, adding that the cooking competition from the preparatory class was interesting.
He said that for the past two years, women have been the ones emerging as overall winner, stressing that his ultimate goal for the 3rd edition was just to make history by being the first male to win Hansik Contest.
He further explained what he prepared during the contest.
“I prepared Maekjeok which was a very ancient Korean recipe using Doenjang. I also made Doenjang-Jjigae, which is my main dish and Doenjang-Jjigae is also known as the soul of Kore.
”This year was not fusion, it is pure Korean dishes. But the fact that the soul of Hansik is Jang, I decided to work with Doenjang-Jjigae, which is the first Jang sauce that was ever made in Korea.
”My side dish was MaekJeok using Doenjang and then using Gochujang.
“However, my focus right now is to start creating a Nigerian brand of Ramyeon in Nigeria.
“The production will be in Korea and then the branding will be in Nigeria,” he said .
He added that being an influencer and a honorary reporter made him to keep making videos on Korean culture and writing articles on Korean culture with passion.
” I just want to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to KCCN for being present in my country my own motherland,” he said.
Also speaking, Ms Yinjin Lee, KCCN Event Planner/ Programme Officer, said the 2026 edition initially had 20 contestants before the online preliminary courses, where they later explained their passion and show the video of their cooking procedures before the eight best contestants were invited to the final round.
” We focused more on the authenticity of Hansik. The theme was ‘ Soul of Hansik’ , which focus on infusion that made creativity basic.
“This year , we decided to do the soul of Hansik by bringing the contestants to actually see how they can come with the actual Hansik,” Lee said.
