Lewis Hooper, English man from Bristol, England has just turned 30/
30-year-old looks healthier than anybody else now, but he once weighed only 32 kilograms due to his eating disorder. He was so fragile that once, he had to be treated at hospital for passing out on the street.
Hooper, survivor of anorexia, says Koran food culture – where people share food and side dishes are also presented to go along with main dishes – has been the reason he was able to overcome his disorder and enjoy food, living a healthy life.
August 2020 was when he stepped a foot into Korea. Unable to work due to Covid-19 pandemic in England, he came to Korea on a working holiday visa. Model and actor being his ultimate career aspiration, he moved to Korea and though he could easily find a job.
However, he faced a sudden obstacle when he was turned down by agencies for looking extremely thin and unhealthy/
His visit to Korea turned his life upside down when he encountered Korean food Culutre.
Back in England, he only consumed 60 Kcals a day, his diet consisting mainly involving yogurt, bananas, and chicken breast. He rarely dined outside as it is rare in England to eat alone and the meals are expensive.
However, relatively cheap and various menu in Korean restaurants led him eat outside more often, and completely differerent K-food culture – grilling pork by oneself, boiling soups, various side dishes- has led him to fall in love with Korean food/
“Restaurants in Korea do not provide detailed information on food ingredients like England. Ironically such insufficient detail has allowed me to care less about food and encouraged me to try more diverse food,” Hooper said in a video/
He noted he was awkward and anxious to try something he was not aware of , but it led him to care less and eventually led to freedom.
He added that “I was able to try different dishes by sharing them with others, “and this has helped me recover nutritions as well as the joy in eating.
Thanks to the Korean food culture, his BMI which once dropped to 10slowly recovered to average, and he could notice a significant improvement in his energy levels and sleep quality.
Looking back on his journey, he wants his story to offer assistance to those battling eating disorders, especially men who do not receive as much attention as women.
KGC signs contract with Malaysia corporations
Korea Ginseng Corporation is expanding its presence in ASEAN markets including Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam.
Korea Ginseng Corporation announced on Friday it has stocked their flapship health products at Malaysia’s largest Health and Beauty stores Guardian and Watsons.
Being the center of East Asia Economic along with Singapore, Malaysia has been seeing an increase interest in health products, with the market expanding to 2.4 trillion won last year, increasing 55 percent compared to 1.5 trillion in 2018.
As Malaysia’s representative health products distribution channels, Guardian has 600 stores, and Watsons 700. KGC has been introducing its main products to Guardian, while it has also signed contract with Watsons and will be open at their stores beginning June.
The corporation plans to sign contract with 70-80 percent of stores of Guardians and Watsons.
Malaysia has been conducting various activities to expand its presence in southeast Asian contries. From June 3 to 9, exclusive road show of providing sample drinks of everytime and Korea Ginseng’s various main products to visitors and other events took place at Suria KLCC Shopping center to advertise the brand and products to local consumers.
KGC has also been working with Vietnam and Singapore order to embroaden its business in Asaean countries. By signing contract with local shopping malls and department stores, the company successfully launched store chains and is selling main products like every time and good base.
The company has been seeing a rise in sale through consistent brand communication and marketing targeting locals, and in Vietnam, it was recognized as the best Korean health products brand in 2023.