Exploring Korean-American Heritage & Interculturalism
Mukbang (Broadcast Eating)
I consider the concept of “mukbang” to be a major cultural difference between Koreans and Americans. I mean why? Just why?
Mukbang, if you didn’t already know, is “eating broadcast” or “broadcast eating” where people video themselves eating and then put it online for people to watch (or it’s done live). [Read more…]
A Story From a Korean-American Childhood – Stovetop SurpriseI came home from school one day, absolutely starving. As soon as I walked through the front door, the delicious smell of some sort of vegetable stew greeted my nose.
I followed the scent to a large pot my mother had left on the stove top. I thought to myself, “Yay, Mom left something good to eat!”
Then something started emerging from the murky broth. I couldn’t make it out at first…Was it a green onion? Was it a potato?
So naturally, I poked at it to find out.
It turned over to reveal… [Read more…]
Hooray for Hangeul Day (“Korean Alphabet Day”)!You may wonder why there is a national holiday to commemorate a language. But it’s really so much more than just looking at letters. Hangeul, as it’s known today, has a checkered and tenuous history. It is a reflection of what the Korean people have endured. So the celebration isn’t so much about a language, but the cultural identity and lasting fortitude of the people. (Do you have South Korea’s anthem playing in your head now? Yeah, me neither. But if I knew it, I would! I did when I was little.)
So let’s learn about this “reflection” and what it means…. [Read more…]
Here is an Easy Recipe for Pajeon (Korean Green Onion Pancake)Okay I admit it. I don’t actually cook much.
My cooking style has been described as “reheating” as opposed to “cooking.”
Don’t judge! I know I’m not alone in letting my microwave do the “cooking.” 😉
Furthermore, I hate to waste. How many times have you followed some complicated recipe only to have a bunch of left over ingredients you didn’t know what to do with afterwards?
But don’t get me wrong. I do actually like to cook. Since I’m usually too short on time to cook anything complicated I like simple recipes. I like recipes that generally fulfill three criteria:
First, it must have a minimal number of ingredients. Waste not, want not!
Second, it must require minimal prep time. Although I love Korean food, the prep time for a lot of things is ridiculous!
And third, the ingredients required must be easy to acquire.
This easy recipe for pajeon meets all three criteria. When I say this is an “easy” recipe, I mean it!
You probably have the ingredients for pajeon already in the fridge and pantry.  So you don’t have to make a special trip to the store for it. Although you might need to have a clean bowl or two. 😆 [Read more…]
How to Do the Formal Korean BowKoreans do the formal bow on Seollal (New Year’s Day), Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), and at Jesa (honoring ancestral spirits). There may be other times, but these are the biggies.
I’m going to over this whole formal Korean bowing situation because it will inevitably come up since this is the week of Chuseok. (Hopefully you haven’t missed your shot. Sorry I didn’t post it earlier.)
After reading this, you’ll knock your family’s (or better yet, your significant other’s family’s) socks off with your bowing prowess! Well, okay they probably won’t even notice. But hey, at least you won’t be awkward about it.
My relatives busted on my sister last year when she went to Seoul during Chuseok. We didn’t know that women are supposed to already have their hands on their forehead before beginning to lower themselves. She got the chastising of a lifetime from an overly nitpicking aunt. Apparently, we had been doing it wrong all our lives! [Read more…]
