Side Dishes in Korea
Why do we get served so many each meal?
1. Background Information
One of the most appealing things about eating out in Korea is the unlimited free refill on the side dishes, known as banchan.
This practice is deeply rooted in Korean history and character as a nation
2. Kimchi
There are hundreds of different types of kimchi, but the signature cabbage banchan is offered at pretty much every restaurant.
Koreans have for generations been storing vegetables in pots to ferment so that they will have food available for the winter.
3. Common Banchans
Other than kimchi, there are bean sprouts, cucumber vegetables, and sesame leaves pickled in soy sauce.
Some of the more luxurious Korean restaurant sever egg rolls, tteokbooki, and ganjang gejang.
4. Banchans At Restaurant
Eating at a Korean restaurant is always an exercise in how to maneuver all the dishes to actually fit on the table.
It is not uncommon to receive 3 or more different banchan dishes alongside the main course that you order.
5. Homemade Banchans
During a kimchi-preparation event called kimjang, a large amout of kimchi is laid out for all members of the family work on.
This practice is less common these days, but parents still like to prepare kimchi and distribute it to their children as a show of affection.
6. Why Are Banchan Unlimited?
One reason is that white rice was much more expensive than kimchi and banchan during difficult times in the Korean economy.
It was too expensive for restaurants to give refills of rice, but in order to make sure you were full, they offered you a second helping of banchan.
7. How Is Banchan Served?
In order to reduce operating costs, some restaurants have suggested limiting or removing the unlimited banchan options, which many Korean people weren’t happy about.
To meet in the middle, many Korean restaurants these days have adopted a self-service system in which you can eat as much as you like, but you have to approach the food station and fill your own bowls.
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8 Popular Men’s Fashion Styles Seen In K-Dramas
1. Kim Seon Ho
In Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Kim Seon ho’s fashion is casual and practical. You will often see him wearing a t-shirt, plaid shirt, and jeans.
The main point of his style is that he rarely buttons up his shirts. Because the checkered patterns are colorful and diverse, it never gets boring.
2. Park Seo Joon
In Itaewon Class, Park Seo Joon often wears oversized items, especially bomber jackets in deep tones, that show his masculinity.
He completes this edgy, street look by layering with dark hoodies and wearing combat boots.
3. Park Seo Joon
Unlike the stubborn, hard Park Saeroyi, Park Seo Joon plays a seemingly narcisstic chairman with a luxurious, clean style in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim.
He often wears a full suit with a tie and completes the look with a very fancy pocket scarf.
4. Lee Min Ho
Lee Min Ho often plays a chaebol, a word used to describe the super-rich in Korea.
In The King Eternal Monarch, he completes this look by wearing a long coat or trench coat paired with a turtleneck sweater, creating a classic and luxurious style.
5. Gong Yoo
In Goblin, Gong Yoo also dresses luxuriously in long coats and turtlenecks.
Unlike Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo is portrayed more warmly, and you will see many scenes of him wearing sweaters and cardigans to create a sweet, friendly look.
6. Cha Eun Woo
Cha Eun woo’s image in My ID Is Gangnam Beauty is a gentle, sweet, and almost perfect guy. That’s why his fashion style in this drama is quite simple and causal.
His most worn outfit is usually slacks and a button down shirt. The shirt is neatly tucked in, making him look and professional.
7. Hwang In Yeop
Hwang In Yeop perfectly portrays the bad boy in True Beauty with his big leather jackets, chain necklace, and silver earrings.
He looks extremely trendy and sets the standard for the bad boy style.
8. Lee Do Hyun
The drama Youth of May is set around an extremely important event in Korean history - the democratization of Gwangju in May 1980. Lee Do Hyun recreated the style of the youth at that time.
The most typical of Lee Do Hyun’s retro outfits is jeans with a button down shirt and belt.
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