This is south Korea

Japchae, a traditional Korean glass noodle stir-fry Introduction: Hello, dear readers! Have you decided on your dinner menu for tonight? If not, how about trying a Korean dish called Japchae? If this is your first time hearing about Japchae, don’t worry — today, I’d like to introduce it to you. Let’s get started! Japchae (잡채) is one of Korea’s most representative traditional dishes. It is made by stir-frying glass noodles (sweet potato starch noodles) with a variety of vegetables, meat, and mushrooms, then seasoning the mixture with soy sauce and finishing it with fragrant sesame oil. Unlike greasy or heavily seasoned foods, Japchae is known for its light yet profound harmony of flavors . It is a staple on festive occasions in Korea—such as holidays, family celebrations, and birthdays—symbolizing abundance and togetherness. For Koreans, Japchae evokes the feeling of a “special day’s dish,” while for foreigners, it often feels like a unique version of “Korean pasta.” In particular,...

One of the soybeans most loved by Koreans, Green flesh black bean (a variety of black soybean) Introduction: Why Is the Soybean Important? Hello, dear readers! Today, I would like to share with you a story about soybeans — a key ingredient in Korean cuisine and a food enjoyed by people all around the world. Since I am not an expert on soybeans, I will simply introduce some well-known facts in a concise manner. So then, let us begin! Today, no matter where you go in the world, you can easily find foods made from soybeans. From Asian staples such as tofu, soy sauce, and doenjang to Western uses like soybean oil, soy protein–based meat substitutes, and soy milk, soybeans appear widely across cuisines. For this reason, the soybean is a food ingredient shared by people around the globe. Yet there is a fact many do not know: the soybean’s place of origin is the Korean Peninsula and southern Manchuria. In other words, the roots of the soybeans people enjoy today trace back to Korean lands. ...

Rice cakes such as Gyeongdan, Baekseolgi, and Honey Tteok arranged on a platter look delicious. Introduction — Korean tteok: a cultural symbol beyond a simple dessert Dear readers, greetings! Today, I would like to introduce you in detail to a traditional Korean food, tteok. This article will cover the origins, characteristics, varieties, and modern transformations of tteok, with the hope that it will help you, dear readers, gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture. Korean tteok (tteok) is not simply a food made primarily from rice. It is a cultural symbol that embodies the lives, history, and sentiments of the Korean people, and a traditional food handed down through generations. Often called “rice cake,” Korean tteok actually carries meanings and an identity that are quite distinct from Western rice cakes. Its chewy texture, delicate colors, and nutty or sweet flavors are distinctive charms unique to Korean tteok. Moreover, tteok is not merely something to eat; it also funct...

A vendor at Namdaemun Market in Seoul selecting steamed buns and dumplings from a display. Introduction: The True Highlight of a Seoul Trip Greetings, dear readers. Today, I’d like to share a light introduction to Seoul’s street food. Seoul is more than just a large metropolitan city. It’s a place where traditional hanok houses stand alongside towering skyscrapers, where bustling traditional markets coexist with cutting-edge shopping malls, and where four distinct seasons create ever-changing scenery and flavors. But perhaps the most vivid way to experience the city is by  walking its streets and enjoying a snack in hand . In particular,  Seoul street snacks  offer a multi-sensory experience—taste, aroma, sound, and even the warmth of human interaction. For locals, these snacks are small everyday pleasures; for visitors, they are often a highlight of the trip. Generations of Koreans still share memories of buying spicy tteokbokki for just a few coins after school in th...