The 4^th  Annual Indonesian Speech Contest 2008 Held In Seoul 

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Seoul has successfully organized the 4th Indonesian Speech Contest 2008 on May 24, 2008 at the  Embassy. This contest was open to the Korean public. All participants have delivered their speech in Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language) under the theme “Indonesian Culture.”

The Indonesian Speech Contest is an annual program which was held for the first time in 2005. The objective of this activity is to promote Indonesian language and culture to the Korean people, as well as to enhance the cordial relations between the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of Korea which has amicably existed for a long time.

The Indonesian Speech Contest 2008 was opened by Charge d’Affairs of the Embassy, Mr. Foster Gultom and was participated by  31 contestants. Most of them are students majoring Malay-Indonesian Studies in Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Pusan University of Foreign Studies, and Woosong University.

         Seoul Friendship Fair Brings      the World Closer with "Hi Seoul Festival 2008"

Embassy Women Association (DWP) from  Indonesian Embassy in Korea participated to the  Hi Seoul Festival 2008 on May 10, 2008.  Food, fairs and fun were back at the annual Hi Seoul Spring Festival this past week. One of the many, the 2008 Seoul Friendship Fair was held to promote understanding and strengthen friendships among cultures.

Seoul was alive with festivities this past week as people from all nooks and crannies of Korea as well as other countries came to the eight-day-long Hi Seoul Spring Festival.
Throughout the capital, various sights and sounds are available for public enjoyment at fairs and exhibitions, the cuisines of more than 50 countries were on display.

The Order of Diplomatic Service Merit to H.E. Jakob Tobing, February 2008

On February 15, 2008, The Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo, if giving the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit to H.E. Jakob Tobing, in acknowledgment of his distinguished efforts for promotion of friendly relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Indonesia during his tour of duty as the Indonesian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea

ASEAN Ambassadors' call to President-elect Lee Myung-bak, January 2008

On 29 January 2008, Indonesian Ambassador and Chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS), H.E. Jakob Tobing along with seven Ambassadors of ASEAN countries: Ambassadors of Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, conducted a courtesy call to President-elect Lee Myung-bak at his office in Seoul.

At this occasion, Ambassador Tobing congratulates President-elect Lee Myung-bak for his decisive victory on the election last month. Aside from the discussion on ASEAN-Korea relations, Ambassador Tobing also presents to President-elect Lee a souvenir as a token of gratitude of the people of Indonesia for the humanitarian assistance he organized as the Mayor of Seoul to the victims of the tsunami which hit Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia in 2004.

Among other things, President-elect Lee Myung-bak praised the cooperation established between the two regions and promised to put special attention to ASEAN and to increase Korean participation in overseas development assistance.

Indonesian Cuisine

With over 300 ethnic groups and over 590 languages and dialects, Indonesian food is as varied as its people.

So imagine having to explain what a national dish is or even offer a sample of Indonesian cuisine. Recently the Indonesian Embassy held a seminar explaining its country, people, tourist attractions and foods to Club Symposia, a group of Korean restaurateurs and food service professionals.

Every couple of months the group gets together to learn about another countrys culture and food at the Millennium Hilton Hotel, but this time around, for the Indonesian luncheon, it was held at the Indonesian Embassy in Yeouido.

What also made this event special was that it was hosted by the ambassadors wife, something that rarely happens.Our food and people are as different as the land itself, said Mdme Adriana Tobing. The surrounding countries have similar foods but with differences. Popular Indonesian dishes such as satay, beef rendang, and sambals are also enjoyed in Malaysia and Singapore. Soy-based dishes, such as tofu and tempe, are also very popular in many parts of Indonesia. Yet, most Indonesians eat rice as the main dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

There is an Indonesian joke that says, even if you have eaten a loaf of bread, you are still hungry. Its gotta be rice! Other Indonesians are fine with bread or noodles. Mdme Adriana Tobing explained the different regions and their foods and customs.

The Sudanese in West Java like to eat fresh vegetables and sambal (relishes) while the Javanese like to eat sweet foods. Most meals in western and central Indonesia are served around a cone-shaped pile of long-grain, highly polished rice. A meal may include a soup, salad or the more commonly sauteed vegetables with garlic, and another main dish.  All meals are accompanied by at least one sambal.

The people in Padang, West Sumatra are more into hot and spicy foods and are famous for fast delivery. The waiter can bring a dozen plates of various dishes with two hands in one trip. One of the favorites of the area is beef rendang.

In eastern Indonesia, where the natives are more influenced by Pacific Islander cultures such as on the island of Papua and Timor, the meals can be centered around other sources of carbohydrates such as sago and grain.

Adriana arranged a table with some of the spices used in Indonesian cuisine to give an idea of the various spices used in Indonesian cuisine. After the explanation it was down to the food itself. The chefs at the embassy whipped up Soto Padang (spicy soup Padang style) with satay, vegetables and rice.

The Club arranges these seminars to taste foods that are unfamiliar in Korea and in consequence, may adapt those dishes to menus or services in their own establishments.