CJ CheilJedang’s Cuisine.K hosts exclusive event featuring French culinary master Pierre Gagnaire to blend Korean ingredients with French cuisine
Young chefs from CJ CheilJedang’s Korean culinary training program, Cuisine.K, had the opportunity to meet legendary French chef Pierre Gagnaire.
On March 28, the company hosted the event “Pierre Gagnaire & Cuisine.K Young Chefs: Pairing Perrier-Jouët Champagne with Korean Cuisine” at “The Kitchen” of the CJ CheilJedang Center in Seoul.
The event celebrated a visit to Korea by chef Pierre Gagnaire, global ambassador for the champagne brand Perrier-Jouët. Industry figures such as chef Yoon Ye-rang of Moulin and chef Kim Hee-eun of Soul attended the event, along with Sun-ho Lee, Head of Food Growth Transformation at CJ CheilJedang. The event served as an opportunity for participants to network and exchange ideas on nurturing the next generation of Korean chefs and promoting K-food on a global scale.
One of the highlights of the event was “Team Cuisine.K,” in which young chefs from the first and second classes of Cuisine.K alumni, led by chef Shin Yong-joon, presented a special menu that reinterpreted signature Korean ingredients with French cuisine. Chef Shin’s restaurant, Sool052, was recently recognized as a Michelin restaurant by the Michelin Guide Seoul & Busan 2025.
“If this were a restaurant, I would definitely come back,” said chef Gagnaire after tasting the dishes. “Experiencing the creativity and the boundless potential of Korean cuisine through Team Cuisine.K has been truly inspiring. I look forward to the future of Korean fine dining, especially with the support of CJ CheilJedang’s Cuisine.K initiative.”
Additionally, chef Gagnaire shared a wealth of experience, offering thoughtful guidance to help the young chefs grow into internationally recognized culinary talents. He highlighted the unique appeal of Korean cuisine as a driving force behind the global rise of K-food and expressed confidence that the momentum would continue to elevate Korean fine dining on the world stage.
Cuisine.K is CJ CheilJedang’s social contribution initiative focused on advancing and globalizing Korean cuisine. Designed to cultivate the next generation of Korean chefs and raise the global profile of K-food, the program offers a range of experiences, including Korean pop-up restaurants, fine dining apprenticeships (K-Stages), master classes with acclaimed chefs and cooking competition support.
Since launching the Cuisine.K project in May 2023, CJ CheilJedang has supported more than 200 emerging Korean chefs, playing a key role in the expansion of Korean cuisine while actively nurturing new talent in the industry.
