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Korean Cooking: Sesame Bean Sprout Side Dish
The women at the market are always filling my bags to overflowing and of course the idea that bigger is better leaves me departing satisfied until I get home and realize we have way too much food than we will be able to devour before it goes bad. Of course, we always end up eating it all or inviting friends over to eat with us so nothing goes to waste. But, every week as soon as I get home with my grocery bags full it’s inevitable that my brain goes blank and I have no idea what I could possibly make with all of this food. This week I had…
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ESD Making a New Music Video
Every Single Day, the Korean band responsible for the music on such dramas as Pasta, Golden Time, My Princess and Cheongdamdong Alice are just about to wrap up working on the current very popular SBS drama I Hear Your Voice. To celebrate another very successful drama, ranking number 1 across the country for the last six weeks, they have not only been in the studio recording for the OST, but they’ve also been in front of the camera preparing a brand new music video. They haven’t made a music video in quite awhile and it’s certainly time for a visual reminder of just how great these guys are. Here’s a…
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Korean Cooking: Southern Mother Style Bean Sprout Soup
Bean sprout soup, or kongnamulguk (콩나물국), is a simple broth soup that you will find at restaurants around the country, a specialty of Jeonju, and in homes too. It’s a meal that is pretty easy for most people to eat, and since soybean sprouts are a staple Korean vegetable, you can eat it and find it year round without fail. We use bean sprouts for all kinds of things with the most popular being the sesame bean sprout side dish. Suffice to say, I’ve eaten in and outside of the home so many times, I was shocked to create a boisterous hubbub at the farmer’s market this week when I…
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How To Visit The The Cheorwon DMZ Area From Seoul, Korea
Most tourists that visit Seoul, Korea wonder if they can fit in a trip to the DMZ at some point. The areas that are open to tourists are centered around the tunnels that the North Koreans built as they tried to sneak into South Korea some decades ago. The most often visited by tourists and easiest to access is the DMZ area in the Paju region. While this is an easy spot to get to, it’s a bit too touristy for my liking. Though the trek to get to Cheorwon, Korea is a bit more tough, there is a completely different experience. Want to know how to visit the DMZ…
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Korean Cooking: How To Cook Eggplant Korean Style
When you visit a market in Korea, you’ll be able to see easily what is in season and what isn’t. You won’t wonder at all why there is a plethora of garlic side dishes at certain times at restaurants or why there is eggplant, for example. When eggplant is in season you can get bags of the good stuff and after you’ve made eggplant parmesan or something, take the rest and whip up some delicious Korean sesame eggplant (가지무침). This Korean side dish is delicious and a nice treat when eggplant are readily available. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if…
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Things To Do In Mullae-dong: A Guide To The Street Art and Culinary Scene
Want to get off the beaten path in Seoul and find something a little different? A little noisy? A little colorful? Definitely cool? Head to Mullae-dong. An area built around metalworks factories and popularized in recent years by artists that moved south from Hongdae when it got too expensive. You won’t know what you’ll find around every corner but there are plenty of murals, regenerated cafes, and restaurants to hang out in. Here’s one neighborhood in Seoul you won’t find a lot of information about online, but that just means it’s up to you to explore it. Find out more about Mullae-dong in Seoul, Korea: (This post contains affiliate links,…
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Korean Cooking: How To Make Pumpkin Porridge
Pumpkin porridge, or hobak-juk (호박죽) in Korean, is one of those meals I’ve found people either love or hate. It’s not pumpkin soup like my Australian and European friends expect, it’s thicker and more of a porridge. I never had anything except pumpkin pie growing up, so I didn’t try the dish the first time with many expectations at all. Having a daughter now who loves the stuff, I can say I really do too. It can be a bit sweet or even salty depending on how you like it. Pumpkin porridge makes a great breakfast in Korea, or you might see it as a Korean dessert option in a…
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Korean Eating: Don’t Throw Away the Pig Skin!
No part of the pig should be thrown away! The Mapo district of Seoul is known for its pig skin restaurants and now I understand why there are so many here. There’s hardly a night out for pork on the grill that doesn’t end with some chewy, but also crackled at the beginning if done just right, pig skin, or dwaeji ggupdaegi (돼지 껍데기). (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.) Where to eat pig skin in Korea Pig skin is called dwaeji ggupdaegi (돼지껍데기), “dwaeji” being…
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The War and Women’s Human Rights Museum: Learn About The Comfort Women In Seoul
Just over two years ago I headed to the House of Sharing in Seoul to learn more about the “comfort women” and their history and cause here in Korea. Hearing completely honest and horrific testimonies from the sex slaves during WWII left me wondering why these women are still not recognized in Japanese history. If you spend any time in Seoul, you should plan to make a visit to this museum. While you may learn about the Korean war and other wars on the peninsula, the comfort women is a topic that doesn’t get talked about as much as it should. Learn more now. Plan a trip to the War…