The Italian Embassy in South Korea, led by Ambassador Emilia Gatto, held the second 'Italia? C'è!' event on July 23 at the Italian Residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan, Seoul, showcasing the works of three Italian experts based in Korea.
During the event, speakers included Cho Hang-jun, a professor at Ajou University and a licensed architect in Italy; Moon Kwang-hoon, a professor of German language and culture at Chungbuk National University; and Chef Lee Hyun-seung, an expert in Italian cuisine, who introduced their respective books related to Italy.
Ambassador Emilia Gatto emphasized the significance of the event in her welcoming remarks, noting that the relationship between Korea and Italy has strengthened following the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2024, along with the recent visits of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Korea and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to Italy.
Cho Hang-jun was the first speaker, presenting his book 'Milan Architectural Journey: A City Walk with Italian Architects,' which reexamines Milan as a global travel destination from an architectural perspective. Having lived in Milan for over 30 years after being born in Rome, Cho described the city as an 'architectural laboratory,' highlighting its famous structures like the Duomo and its rich array of buildings from ancient to modern times.
Moon Kwang-hoon followed with his book 'Florence Rain: A Renaissance City Travelogue,' where he discussed the allure of Florence, a key birthplace of the Renaissance. He explored various artistic and literary works, including Masaccio's 'Holy Trinity,' the tombstone of San Miniato al Monte, and Dante Alighieri's 'Divine Comedy,' emphasizing Florence's humanistic values.
Lastly, Chef Lee Hyun-seung introduced his book 'Vegetable-Filled Italian Home Cooking,' showcasing the charm of Italian home cooking beyond the well-known pizza and pasta. He shared his experiences studying in Italy, where he was impressed by the flavors of tomatoes and mozzarella. Lee presented dishes such as Tortilla di Patate e Prosciutto (Italian potato pie) and Zuppa di Asparagi con Nudi (asparagus soup with gnudi), stating, 'The true appeal of Italian home cooking lies in maximizing the natural flavors of seasonal vegetables and quality ingredients with just a bit of olive oil, salt, and fresh herbs.'
The Italian Embassy has been actively promoting mutual understanding between the two countries, hosting the 'Italia? C'è!' event for the second time this year, following a similar event in April. An embassy official stated, 'We plan to continue hosting the Italia? C'è! events in the future.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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