The Korea Foundation hosted a Korean luncheon at the Willard InterContinental in downtown Washington D.C. Tuesday, as part of efforts to promote the country's cuisine to the world. Some 150 food columnists, restaurant business people, Korea experts attended the gathering.

The participants included Karin Lee, executive director of the U.S. National Committee on North Korea, and Peter Young, chief of the Asian Division of the Library of Congress. Sharing their impressions of the event, Lee said Korean food made her day, while Young expressed his pleasure to attend the luncheon.

Ahn Jeong-hyun (right) of the Korean Food Globalization Promotion Committee shows how to cook bibimbap, a bowl of rice topped with vegetables, at an event in Washington D.C. on Tuesday. /Courtesy of Korea Foundation

The Willard InterContinental allowed Korean chefs the rare privilege of using its kitchen for the event, although plates to serve food on were sent from Seoul.

"Korean cuisine rather lags behind Chinese and Japanese food in terms of global popularity," said Korea Foundation President Yim Sung-jun. "This event will create the momentum to promote Korean food in the world's major cities."

The Korea Foundation will host a dinner party Thursday for American political and business people, including Congressman Edward Royce, Kathleen Stephens, American ambassador to Korea, and Collin Powel, former secretary of State.