ID :
46378
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 11:33
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/46378
The shortlink copeid
Local researchers dispute origin of chili peppers
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- Local researchers, citing historical records and
biological data, disputed on Wednesday currently held views that chili peppers
were first introduced to Korea in the late 16th century.
The team, led by Kwon Dae-young, director of the food engineering technology
division at the state-run Korea Food Research Institute (KFRI), claimed experts
found 28 different historical references to chili peppers and their byproducts in
Korea going back to the 9th century.
"There are numerous references to chili peppers in the 15th and early 16th
centuries that speak about the vegetable and products made from it," Kwon said.
The revelation is important since the origin of chili peppers has been a source
of contention when South Korea takes steps to register traditional foods that use
chili peppers with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The WIPO is a U.N. organization dedicated to promoting the use and protection of
intellectual property.
The KFRI expert argued that while it is largely believed that Japan acquired
chili peppers from foreign visitors who frequented its ports, Japanese cuisine
noticeably lacks chili peppers.
The expert said there is ample evidence to suggest that chili peppers, used in a
wide variety of Korean traditional dishes, were in the country before the
Japanese invasion of 1592.
"Supporting this view, some Japanese records examined said chili peppers were
actually brought from Korea during the invasion," the researcher said.
"It has been taken for granted that Lee Sung-woo's findings published in 1978 on
this subject are true, but there are plenty of documents that cast doubt," the
food researcher said.
Lee's report states that Christopher Columbus discovered aji peppers in North
America and brought them back to Europe, after which they rapidly spread
throughout the world.
He said despite conflicting accounts by experts, key reference materials like the
Encyclopedia Britannica say the origin of chili peppers is South America, China
and India.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- Local researchers, citing historical records and
biological data, disputed on Wednesday currently held views that chili peppers
were first introduced to Korea in the late 16th century.
The team, led by Kwon Dae-young, director of the food engineering technology
division at the state-run Korea Food Research Institute (KFRI), claimed experts
found 28 different historical references to chili peppers and their byproducts in
Korea going back to the 9th century.
"There are numerous references to chili peppers in the 15th and early 16th
centuries that speak about the vegetable and products made from it," Kwon said.
The revelation is important since the origin of chili peppers has been a source
of contention when South Korea takes steps to register traditional foods that use
chili peppers with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The WIPO is a U.N. organization dedicated to promoting the use and protection of
intellectual property.
The KFRI expert argued that while it is largely believed that Japan acquired
chili peppers from foreign visitors who frequented its ports, Japanese cuisine
noticeably lacks chili peppers.
The expert said there is ample evidence to suggest that chili peppers, used in a
wide variety of Korean traditional dishes, were in the country before the
Japanese invasion of 1592.
"Supporting this view, some Japanese records examined said chili peppers were
actually brought from Korea during the invasion," the researcher said.
"It has been taken for granted that Lee Sung-woo's findings published in 1978 on
this subject are true, but there are plenty of documents that cast doubt," the
food researcher said.
Lee's report states that Christopher Columbus discovered aji peppers in North
America and brought them back to Europe, after which they rapidly spread
throughout the world.
He said despite conflicting accounts by experts, key reference materials like the
Encyclopedia Britannica say the origin of chili peppers is South America, China
and India.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
