Chopsticks Day: Chopsticks festival held in South Korea

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November 11th is celebrated as Singles Day in China. But one town in South Korea has designated it Chopsticks Day. A festival is held each year to celebrate the uniquely East Asian eating utensils, highlighted by a chopsticks skills competition. Shane Hahm reports.

Dexterity, precision, and concentration, just some of the skills competitors need to become the chopsticks champion. The goal is simple - pile as many jellies into a stack as high as possible in one minute.

KIM DO-HWAN CHOPSTICKS CHAMPION "At school I practiced a lot to develop the left and right part of my brain in a balanced way and I think that helped me do well in the competition."

Cheongju, South Korea is home to the country's largest annual chopsticks festival. Visitors can experience everything there is to know about the utensil, from its history and cultural origins to its modern usage in daily life.

CHO HYUN-JU FESTIVAL ATTENDEE "I thought it was fun to see performances from countries that use chopsticks like Korea, China, and Japan. I drove all the way from Seoul early in the morning and there's a lot to do and see."

SHANE HAHM SOUTH KOREA The origin of the chopstick in East Asia dates back thousands of years. Traditionally in Korea chopsticks are made of metal and often coupled with a matching spoon. You may see slight variations in other countries like China and Japan. But it's clear that the chopstick is one common trait the three countries share together.

Cheongju, along with Qingdao, China and Niigata, Japan were designated East Asian cultural cities in 2012 as part of an agreement by the culture ministers of the three countries. The goal is to seek reconciliation through cultural exchanges.

PARK SANG-IL HEAD OF CHEONGJU CULTURAL CENTER "We solemnly declare that Korea, China, and Japan will jointly strive for unity in East Asia and unity around the world to create a better world to live in."

Chopsticks are a fundamental part of East Asian culture. And Chopsticks Day is a celebration of what countries have in common one jelly at a time.