If the Olympics recognizes the World’s best athletes in sports, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants (W50B) recognizes the best restaurants in the World.

The W50B was founded in 2002 in London, England, as an alternative to the Michelin Guide, which boasts over 120 years of history. Despite Michelin Guide’s prestigious standing, it has faced criticism for its consistent awarding of stars to the same establishments, leading to perceptions that it struggles to keep pace with the rapidly evolving culinary industry.

While the Michelin Guide relies on paid professional evaluators to determine restaurant star ratings, the W50B arranges ranking through the votes of over 1,000 food and dining experts worldwide, including chefs, food journalists, and diners.

Launched in 2013, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (A50B) serves as the regional league of W50B, akin to the Asian Games in the culinary scene. More than 300 Asian W50B voters select the top restaurants in Asia, resulting in dynamic rankings that change yearly.

This year’s A50B will take place in Seoul from March 23 to 26. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Seoul Metropolitan Government serve as hosts.

William Drew, the content director of the A50B 2024, highlighted Seoul’s increasing presence on the Asia list since 2015 during an interview with Chosun Biz on March 21. “This is proof that Seoul is positioning itself as a fascinating city in the gastronomic hub,” Drew said.

Drew also praised Korean chefs for their talent in reinterpreting traditional Korean cuisine with a modern twist.

“The charm of Korean cuisine is spreading among overseas cities such as New York, Singapore, and Copenhagen, raising the global recognition of Korean food. More Korean restaurants are featured on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, not just Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. This trend highlights the growing global popularity of Korean culture and cuisine.”

Meta, ranked No.17 in last year’s A50B, is located in Singapore but is a Korean restaurant with Kim Sun-ok as the executive chef. Another Korean restaurant in Singapore, Nae:Um, secured the No.83.

Japan secured ten spots in last year’s A50B, claiming the top spot among the countries represented. Thailand and Singapore tied for second place with nine restaurants each, followed by Hong Kong with five restaurants on the list. South Korea and China shared fifth place, each with four restaurants.