The Royal Asiatic Society, Korea Branch will kick off the new year with some Gallic flavor, with a talk by Hal Swindall on the rise of French restaurants in Korea.

Before 2000, there were fewer than five French restaurants in all of Korea, he says, while today, there are 60, as well as bakeries.

Swindall argues that the sharp increase indicates a major shift in food preferences here.

He will talk about how a new interest in a wider range of foreign food here has drawn young Korean chefs to France to study and gain experience, while some French chefs are moving overseas, including to Korea, to escape the poor economy back home.

At the same time, he says that the food industry here expects French cuisine to stay a niche market because of the sharp differences between French and Korean culinary cultures.

Swindall will speak about the success French food is enjoying in Korea, and some of the challenges it faces in the talk, which takes place on Jan. 5 at Somerset Palace near Anguk Station in Seoul.

The event starts from 7:30 p.m. and admission is free for RASKB members, 10,000 won for nonmembers and 5,000 won for students.

(paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)