Curious Facts About Korean Cuisine

The Republic of Korea, also known as South Korea, is a country located in East Asia and is the fourth largest economy on the continent and the tenth worldwide. In recent years, the world has witnessed the hallyu or the Korean wave, a phenomenon that encompasses the craze for Korean culture, from k-pop and k-dramas to, of course, South Korean cuisine.Traditional Korean food or hansik focuses on rice served alongside soups and various side dishes, as noted by the Visit Korea portal, and is considered very healthy and nutritious, as it is based on meat and vegetables that are often boiled or steamed. At kiwilimón, we know that you are interested in learning about international cuisine, so we share with you 5 curious facts about Korean cooking that will make you want to try all of its dishes.5 Curious Facts About Korean Food 1. Food is the best medicine According to the official site of the Republic of Korea, food and medicine are deeply connected, as in Korean culture both have the same origin and function. It is also believed that both health and illness are related to what and how one eats.The philosophy behind this belief is eumyangohaeng and is based on the belief that the universe is composed of five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Only by having the precise balance of these elements can one enjoy good health, and according to traditional Korean philosophy, this can be achieved through food. It is only when food fails that one turns to medicine.2. Love for fermented food In Korean cuisine, there are numerous traditional dishes prepared through fermentation processes that can take anywhere from several months to years. There are records of fermented foods in Korean cooking dating back to 1500 B.C., as noted by Great British Chefs.The most representative fermented foods from this country are doenjang, ganjang, and gochujang. These fermented pastes and sauces, known as jangs, are responsible for adding rich and complex flavors to many iconic dishes of this Asian country's cuisine and are made from meju, a block of fermented soy that is traditionally prepared in autumn. You can also read: The most representative dishes of Korean cuisine3. Infinite versions of kimchiKimchi is one of the most famous Korean dishes worldwide and consists of a combination of vegetables, garlic, ginger, and fish sauce with notes that vary from sweet, sour, and spicy. While kimchi is a basic side dish in Korean households, there is no single recipe for preparing it. Just as in Mexico there are countless recipes for mole and in India there are innumerable recipes for chai, in Korea there is a great variety of kimchi recipes; some specialized sites in fermented food and Korean culture claim there are between 180 and 200 different types of kimchi.4. The true origin of Korean fried chicken Another very popular Korean dish is Korean fried chicken. Crispy and juicy, this delicious chicken covered in a glaze made with a delightful sweet and spicy sauce is simply irresistible, and when paired with beer, it is known as chimaek, but did you know that its origin is not entirely Korean? As noted by Food Worth Writing For, fried chicken came to Korea with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, but it wasn't until the late seventies that the first fried chicken franchise in Korea inspired by Kentucky Fried Chicken opened. The success was such that many fried chicken restaurants began to emerge, experimenting with ingredients to create their own recipes, with yangnyeom-chikin being one of the most popular to this day.5. Obangsaek: 5 colors in Korean food The deep connection between food and health in Korean culture, based on traditional philosophy, is represented in each meal. Traditional Korean food consists of 5 different colors due to the symbolism associated with obangsaek, the scheme of traditional Korean colors: blue, red, white, black, and yellow. Each color symbolizes a direction and an element: east-wood (blue), south-fire (red), center-earth (yellow), white-metal (west), and north-water (black). Consuming all these colors and elements in a balanced way through food, as noted by Gastro Tour Seoul, is considered fundamental for good physical and spiritual health. Some traditional Korean dishes that follow this color spectrum include bibimbap, kimbap, gujeolpan, and japchae, but many recipes try to incorporate the five mentioned colors in some way, although the blue color is often replaced by green ingredients.Now that you know more about Korean cuisine, you can enjoy its delicious traditional recipes full of symbolism and good for health. Remember that at kiwilimón you can learn to prepare the best recipes of Asian and international food to take your cooking knowledge beyond borders.