Nanro Academy selects three new fellows for hansik leadership program

Nanro Academy, a hansik research institution, announced Monday it has completed the selection of three fellows for the second year of its global Korean food talent development program, Nanro Next.

Nanro Academy is a global exchange community and educational institution dedicated to cultivating and supporting the next generation of talent in the hansik industry.

Nanro Next is the country's only scholarship program run by Nanro Academy to identify and support next-generation leaders who will drive the development of the hansik industry. Candidates are recommended by sunbae chefs and selected from Korea and the United States based on their potential. Fellows receive structured education and mentoring covering traditional hansik and K-food cooking, restaurant management, branding, marketing, design and overseas internships.

A gala dinner — the Nanro Next 2026 Gala Dinner — was held Sunday at Rudbeckia in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, to introduce the three newly selected fellows. About 50 guests attended, including Nanro Academy Korea-US Chair Choi Jeong-yun, chef Choi Hyeon-seok of Choi Dot — who hosted last year's gala dinner and serves as a Nanro Next mentor — Soul owner-chef Kim Hui-eun, Tienmimi owner-chef Jeong Ji-seon and Dresden Green owner-chef Park Ga-ram.

Chef Park Soo-young, an alumna of Jungsik — the first Korean restaurant in the United States to earn three Michelin stars — was named the third fellow and shared her remarks via video. Ma Hyeon-su, head sommelier at Swanyie, was named the fourth fellow, and Shim Su-jeong, head chef at Onjium, was named the fifth.

"We will continue to provide active support so that the talents selected through Nanro Next can grow into game changers for the future hansik industry, going beyond the popularity Korean food enjoys today," Nanro Academy Chair Choi Jeong-yun said.