May 22, 2025 saw Team Korea claim gold at the iba UIBC Cup of Confectioners.

Team Korea, consisting of In Seok Kim and Kyung Joo Jang, took home both the Confectionery Gold and the Best Showpiece prize. The German team placed second and Mexico third, while the Jury President’s Creative Prize was awarded to Vasil Terziu and Bledian Ibrahimllari from Albania.

During the two days of competition the jury members – made up of Remy Corbet (Norway), Antonio Carlos Henriques (Brazil), and Marios Papadopoulos (Greece) and chaired by René Klinkmüller (Germany) – inspected and tasted the works. Each of the works was assessed on appearance, flavour, variety and creativity and their adherence to the competition theme “art”.

Each team had to construct one showpiece made of sugar, brittle and chocolate and a matching glazed cake with at least three unbaked fillings. They also had to make a further three different types of petit fours, three different pralines and two modelled figures had to be produced and last, but not least, 10 identical, motto-themed sweet pastries had to be manufactured. The requirement: all ingredients had to be edible and all decorative elements had to be produced on site.

“My motto is:  here and today are all winners at iba 2025! But only can be the best. However, all those who have taken on these special challenges will improve as a result and end up with even more skills and expertise. This will advance them in other competitions and move forward their careers,” René said.

The full list of competitors included:

• Albania               Vasil Terziu and Bledian Ibrahimllari (Creative Award)
• Germany            Amelie Natterer and Marleen Oehmke (second place)
• Korea                  In Seok Kim and Kyung Joo Jang (1st place and Best Showpiece)
• Mexico                Mauro Montez Ruiz and Oscar Paniagua Galindo (3rd place)
• Vietnam            Le Truc Huynh and Vi le Thi Thanh