Evaluation of South Korean cuisine trainings in Turkey in the context of gastrodiplomacy

Political and economic factors have an important place in shaping the relations between states. In the century we live in, it is observed that cultural interactions also have an impact on shaping these relations. Cultural diplomacy, which is one of the soft power tools used by states to increase their visibility on international platforms and improve mutual understanding with other countries, is one of the elements that serve this purpose. Gastrodiplomacy, which is a part of cultural diplomacy, aims to strengthen interaction with other cultures by promoting a country's culinary culture internationally. This research aims to evaluate South Korea's gastrodiplomacy practices in Turkey. For this purpose, qualitative research method was used in the study. The participants of the research consist of participants who received Korean Cuisine training through Ankara Korean Cultural Center. Convenience sampling method was used to determine the participants and data was obtained using a semi-structured interview form. The data were analyzed using content and descriptive analysis methods. The findings of the research reveal that gastrodiplomacy practices carried out by Ankara Korean Cultural Center increase cultural interaction and that the trainings not only provide participants with culinary skills but also provide information about the culture of the country. Participants also stated that they made an effort to learn more about South Korea's culture and disseminate it after the training. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for practitioners and researchers at the end of the research. Key Words: Gastrodiplomacy, South Korea, Ankara Korean Cultural Center