Kimchi and energy

As the establishment of the new King Sejong Institute for language and culture at Zayed University shows, South Korea's rising tide has made waves even here in the Gulf.

Seoul's ambassador to the UAE, Kwon Tae Kyun, calls South Korea's economic expansion "the Miracle on Han River". As the establishment of the new King Sejong Institute for language and culture at Zayed University shows, the country's rising tide has made waves even here in the Gulf.
South Korean firms are building the UAE's first nuclear power station - with a contract valued at $20 billion (Dh73.35bn). The nation's consul general in Dubai estimates that over 120 Korean firms are open for business. And if interest in the Korean language at Zayed University is any indication, the country's growing influence is not purely economic. As The National reported yesterday, more students at Zayed consider the Asian tongue to be of better educational value than French.
It's easy to understand South Korea's cultural appeal but the country's distinctive cuisine is more of an acquired taste. But with only one Korean sit-down in the capital how can one acquire it?
Kimchi, the country's beloved national dish, is the most famous Korean fare. The skyrocketing price of the pungent mixture of fermented cabbage, radishes, chili peppers, and garlic has become something of a scandal in Seoul. We hope that its absence from the tables of restaurants in the UAE has not kept too many Koreans away. Perhaps this is the perfect time for budding entrepreneurs in the UAE to cash in on the kimchi craze - the country's ties with South Korea will only grow.