The comparative tasting was held on November 14 as part of the 2024 Resort Technology Expo in Okinawa. (Image provided by Jeju Provincial Office)
JEJU, Nov. 16 (Korea Bizwire) – In a testament to shared culinary heritage across East Asian waters, a unique food tasting event comparing Jeju Island’s “gogi-guksu” and Okinawa’s “soki soba” drew enthusiastic crowds at a cultural exchange program in Okinawa.
The comparative tasting was held on November 14 as part of the 2024 Resort Technology Expo in Okinawa, showcasing Jeju’s performing arts and food culture, according to Jeju provincial officials.
The noodle comparison emerged as the event’s highlight, with Okinawan residents forming lines extending over 50 meters to sample both dishes. Despite their geographical separation, the two noodle dishes share remarkable similarities.
Savoury Jeju meat noodles flavoured with pork (‘gogi-guksu’ in Jeju Island) have been a part of life on Jeju Island for generations. (Image courtesy of Jeju Local Food Preservation Institute)
Soki soba features wheat noodles in pork bone broth topped with pork meat, distinguishing it from traditional Japanese soba made with buckwheat. The dish bears a striking resemblance to Jeju’s gogi-guksu, a pork-based noodle soup.
“Soki,” as explained by local sources, refers to a braised pork rib dish in Okinawa, specifically using tender meat or boneless ribs with cartilage still attached.
“The cooking methods and broths are so similar that the tastes were remarkably alike,” noted a Jeju provincial official who participated in the tasting.
The cultural exchange also featured performances of Jeju’s traditional outdoor play “Segyeong Nori” under the theme “Rising from the Periphery to the Center,” along with performances by South Carnival, a band singing in the Jeju dialect, and traditional Okinawan dance.
The event coincided with a milestone in diplomatic relations, as Jeju Province and Okinawa Prefecture signed a friendship city agreement at the Okinawa Prefectural Office. Governor Oh Young-hun of Jeju noted that Okinawa is the first Japanese local government to establish such an exchange agreement with Jeju.
“If our regional governments, both advocating for peace, strengthen cooperation and expand partnerships with more cities, it will contribute to world peace,” Oh stated.
In response, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamiki highlighted the similarities between the two regions’ diplomatic approaches, saying, “Jeju’s local diplomacy for peace and prosperity mirrors Okinawa’s policies promoting various exchanges for peace in the Asia-Pacific region.” He called for both regions to “spread messages of peace globally while building mutual solidarity.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
