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HOME News & ForumLiving at SNULife in Seoul |
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| Dining |
Traditional Korean cuisine, developed to fit the natural features of Korea, is complex, varied and rich in tradition. Unlike some cultures where traditional cuisine is only eaten on special occasions, traditional Korean cuisine is what we eat everyday. Generally, Korea’s daily meals are based on grains, especially rice, along with meat, fish, and vegetables, and in ceremonies such as weddings, rice cakes, pan-fried food and noodles are garnished.
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Korean cuisine, at first glance, may seem quite exotic to foreign eyes, however, many non-Koreans eventually fall in love with the varied flavors of Korea’s diverse dishes.
Kimchi, the spicy side dish that is considered by many to be Korea’s “national food,” has earned praise for its amazing health properties. Because of such properties as well as its palatable taste, many foreigners also eat kimchi with their meals. Nowadays, not only kimchi but also other Korean cuisines are gaining increasing popularity among world diners. Korean cuisine has something for everyone---meat lovers will no doubt welcome such dishes as galbi and bulgogi, while vegetarians will love such favorites as bibimbap and Korea’s rich noodle dishes. Also, many Koreans enjoy a variety of stews everyday. Some famous stews include bean-paste pot stew and kimchi stew.
In ordinary meals, Koreans prepare a table full of delicious dishes. Unlike Western cultures where you take some food from a big bowl and place it on your own plate, it is typical Korean culture for everyone at the table to eat from the various dishes together. This is why a full table is provided for every meal. Although for some non-Koreans, it may seem very strange, if you keep on experiencing it, it will give you a feeling of closeness.
* For an unforgettable kimchi-making experience, visit http://www.kimchimuseum.co.kr |
General prices of food |
Since Korean cuisine requires many dishes for each meal, some may think that Korean dishes are very expensive. However, this is not the case. Generally, a meal consisting of a bowl of rice, a stew, and other side dishes cost around 3,500~10,000 won. If the meal includes meat or fish, the price goes up to 10,000~15,000 won, which is not considerably high. If you want to make your own food at home, some of the prices of food ingredients are listed below (in approximation). One thing to note here is that the below prices vary depending on the seasons and circumstances.
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| Food |
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Price (Unit: Korean Won) |
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| Rice (20kg) |
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30,000~40,000 |
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| Cabbage (1) |
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3,000~4,000 |
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| Radish (1) |
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1,500~2,000 |
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| Apple (1) |
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1,000 |
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| Tangerines (10) |
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2,000 |
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| Korean beef (500g) |
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20,000~30,000 |
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| Pork (500g) |
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5,000 |
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| Chicken (1kg) |
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2,000~3,000 |
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| Milk (250ml) |
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500 |
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Forbidden food |
Generally, Koreans do not have any forbidden food. However, one of the main religions in Korea, Buddhism, forbids several kinds of food: meat, alcohol and five kinds of spicy vegetables such as leeks, garlic, scallions, and rocambole. Alcohol, especially, is a tabooed food in many other religions such as the Christian religion.
* More useful information on Korean restaurants can be found at : http://english.visitseoul.net/visit2007en/index.jsp
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