The city of Busan held a special evaluation tasting event titled Neo Chef: A Meal That Moved You on December 15 at 12 p..m at the Shinsegae Centum City Department Store, marking the conclusion of the pilot Neo Busan Chef Project.

The event brought together 15 young chefs, culinary arts students from local universities, who planned and prepared original multi-course menus inspired by Busan’s regional ingredients.

The dishes included grilled Spanish mackerel paired with a fish-roe sauce, octopus-based appetizers and salads, and a dessert featuring locally sourced chestnuts, reflecting both the chefs’ technical training and their approach to culinary storytelling.

The tasting was evaluated by two groups. The citizen panel consisted of individuals who had contributed to the community, including civic award recipients, emergency responders, frequent blood donors, and families of organ donors.

A professional panel made up of university professors, food content planners, and restaurant industry experts assessed menu quality, presentation, service, and overall concept, while offering suggestions for future development.

Rather than a simple cooking showcase, the event was designed as a meaningful dining experience that honored community contributors while giving students a public platform to present their skills and creativity.

The Neo Busan Chef Project was a hands-on talent development program involving well-known local chefs and culinary departments from three Busan-area universities.

Busan City announced plans to expand the project into a long-term, citizen-participation model aimed at nurturing future culinary professionals and strengthening Busan’s identity as a city defined by food, people, and stories.

Fleet Chinhae

USAG Daegu