Mexican ambassador points to upcoming FIFA World Cup match, shared cuisine between 'brother' nations

Mexican Ambassador to Korea Carlos Peñafiel Soto speaks during an interview over Mexican dishes and drinks at El Molino, a restaurant in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, on Feb. 13. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Mexican Ambassador to Korea Carlos Peñafiel Soto linked the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup to the deeper story of Koreans in Mexico, from the first wave of migration in 1905 to the fifth-generation descendants who now form the heart of the very cities hosting the games.
 
“Mexico and Korea have maintained diplomatic ties for more than 120 years,” the ambassador said during an interview at El Molino, a Mexican restaurant in eastern Seoul's Seongsu-dong, on Feb. 13. “Even during the 1910-45 Japanese occupation [of Korea], Koreans living in Mexico were trying to support Korea's freedom and independence from afar.”
 
With matches set to take place in Monterrey and Guadalajara — the beating hearts of Mexico’s Korean business and residential community — the ambassador describes the upcoming game as a beautiful “match between brothers.”
 
Today, Korea stands as Mexico's fourth-largest trading partner, with industry giants such as Samsung, LG and Kia driving the nation's economic engine.
 
Beyond the pitch, the relationship is also visible in culture. Mexico’s enthusiasm for K-pop is so strong that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly requested in January that BTS hold additional concerts in Mexico City.
 
From savoring tequila “like a kiss” to the parallel significance of Mexico's corn and Korea's rice, the bond between the two nations is as complex as it is passionate. 
 
Below are excerpts from the interview, edited for length and clarity. 
 

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Korea's flag is displayed on a screen during the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Dec. 5, 2025. [AFP/YONHAP]

 

Korea and Mexico are in the same group for the World Cup.

This is already our third meeting at the World Cup. This match will take place in Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico. The one in Monterrey is especially meaningful, as it is where Korean companies and the Korean community are most active.

How prepared are local authorities for the influx of fans in terms of safety and infrastructure?

It will be a true pleasure to welcome the Korean national team, the Red Devils, and Korean fans. The Mexican government and the host entities have intensified coordination through biweekly meetings aimed at overseeing infrastructure progress, standardizing security criteria and refining processes related to transportation, hospitality and tourism.
For instance, in Jalisco, the local government has invested in new public transportation lines and is reviewing logistics related to tourism, such as the capacity of airports, roads, public transportation and hotels. The FIFA Fan Festival, which will take place in downtown Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, will bring together thousands of fans who will enjoy live broadcasts, cultural activities and gastronomy in a safe, festive and inclusive environment. 
The Mexican government has also been holding technical meetings with FIFA.

 

President Lee Jae Myung, second from right, holds a Korea-Mexico summit with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the Group of Seven summit venue in Alberta, Canada, on June 17, 2025. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

With high tariffs taking effect from the beginning of this year, what is the position on reviving FTA negotiations or Korea's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)?

Korea was Mexico's fourth-largest trading partner in 2024. From January through November 2025, trade between the two countries amounted to $27 billion, a 2.6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. This momentum has occurred even in the absence of a bilateral FTA. Having an FTA in the future would be important for strengthening trade and investment exchanges, but such an agreement would depend on the existence of favorable political and economic conditions, both domestically and globally.
Mexico is currently focused on reviewing its trade agreement with the United States, our main export destination, but we are closely following Korea's interest in joining the CPTPP and will continue to monitor this situation.

 

What is the staple ingredient in Mexican cuisine?

Corn is the typical staple of Mexican food. Just as rice is essential for Koreans, tortillas are fundamental for Mexicans. We believe that life began with corn. In our mythology, the god of corn is the creator who made the world. It may be easiest to understand this as a kind of ethnic origin similar to Korea's Dangun founding myth.
While white corn is used to make everyday meals, we enjoy blue corn only on special occasions due to its premium quality.

 

Mexican Ambassador to Korea Carlos Peñafiel Soto explains the role of corn in Mexican mythology and culinary tradition during an interview at El Molino in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, on Feb. 13. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Why was Mexican cuisine recognized as an Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010?

 

Mexican gastronomy has a long history stretching back thousands of years. Traditional recipes that existed even before the European conquest have been preserved in their original form to this day. The fusion of European and Asian flavors has made our cuisine even richer. 
I would like to recommend to our Korean friends several highly representative Mexican dishes that are not too difficult to find outside of Mexico: chilaquiles, or fried corn tortilla pieces simmered with salsa or mole and typically topped with cheese; enchiladas; and chile relleno, or stuffed chili pepper. All of them use ancestral ingredients, including corn, chili peppers and tomatoes, and can be accompanied by cheese, cream and a protein of your choice. Moreover, in all of these dishes, the level of spiciness can be adjusted so that people, regardless of their spice tolerance, can try the bold flavors that both Mexican and Korean people enjoy. 

What is the secret to eating tacos the right way?

Tacos must be eaten with sauce. Once the sauce is added, the flavor becomes deeper and much more intense. Adding lemon also gives it a special flavor. A burst of flavors is the true charm of Mexican cuisine.

 

Mexico's mole sauce [JOONGANG ILBO]

What exactly is a mole?

It is a complex sauce made with various spices, chili peppers and cacao. The deeper a family’s lineage, the more likely it is that a special recipe has been passed down through generations. My mother also passed down her own recipe to my younger sister. The mole-making process requires an enormous amount of effort, beginning with drying the peppers for an entire week.
Mole is present at all of life’s important moments, such as graduations, weddings, entering or leaving the hospital and even funerals. In Mexico, there is a joke in which you ask an unmarried friend, “When can we go eat mole together?” That really means, “So when are you getting married?”
The taste of mole can also change depending on the occasion. When a child is born, a person may make a sweeter and softer mole; when someone has passed away, one may make a slightly bitter mole. In general, mole has the mystic ability to induce conversation among people and create special moments.

 

In Korea, people usually enjoy tequila with salt and lemon. How do you drink it in Mexico?

In Mexico, we usually drink tequila or mezcal neat to enjoy its deep original flavor. The most elegant way to drink it is like a kiss — softly, slowly and affectionately, savoring the taste. We prefer to sip it little by little rather than throw it back as a single shot. The better the tequila, the more it should be enjoyed that way. While we enjoy it more at night, it's not uncommon to have one or two glasses during lunch.

 

People celebrate the Day of the Dead in downtown Mexico City on Nov. 1, 2025. [XINHUA/YONHAP]

Mexico’s Day of the Dead is often compared to Korea's jesa (ancestral rites). How do they compare?

It is a special day when the whole family gathers and remembers those who have passed. We believe that on this day, the deceased returns to the world of the living to spend time with us. While the essence is similar between what happens during jesa and Mexico's Day of the Dead, the latter is more of a festivity and not a moment of mourning because we are celebrating life. We honor these people and say, “Thank you. Because of you, I am here.” 

 

Are there other similarities between Korea and Mexico?

Both countries have great pride in their history. Also, just as the Lunar New Year holiday is very important in Korea, Mexico also places great importance on the New Year. The difference is that in Mexico, people usually spend New Year’s with friends, while Christmas — in a country where 80 percent of the population is Catholic — is observed as a family occasion.

 

You moved to Korea in 2023. Do you have any memorable stories to share? 

Before coming to Korea, I served as an ambassador to the Dominican Republic, where the coldest that winter gets is 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 degrees Fahrenheit). Mexico has similar weather. So when I arrived in Korea, I was shocked to experience a temperature as low as minus 18 degrees. I’m still adapting. I adopted a Jindo dog in Korea, and it loves snow and the cold so much that I learned how to spend the winter happily by taking walks together. There were times when it was minus 12 degrees late at night, and my dog kept insisting on going out for a walk, which I found difficult.

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BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]