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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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The Lemon
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 3:22 am Post subject: Do Koreans like foreign food? |
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| maneatinghorse wrote: |
| Most Koreans I know have tried all sorts of food, but in the end they prefer Korean food. |
With the first half of this statement we gain insight into how many Koreans you really know.
Last edited by The Lemon on Sat May 01, 2004 6:06 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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maneatinghorse
Joined: 27 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 3:36 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| With the first half of this statement we gain insight into how many Koreans you really know. |
I don't know the Koreans that you hang out with, but the Korean around me certainly have tried foods from many different countries. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 4:25 am Post subject: |
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Horse-Lemon exchange:
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Quote:
Most Koreans I know have tried all sorts of food, but in the end they prefer Korean food.
With the first half of this statement we gain insight into how many Koreans you really know.
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What exactly are you trying to say, Lemon? That the average Korean has NEVER tried non-Korean food? Gwangju isn't the most cosmopolitan town, but most of the Koreans that I've discussed food with have at least TRIED foreign cuisine. Sure, over here its pretty much limited to Chinese, Italian, and American, but do you think that the average Canadian yahoo is sampling a different culture's cuisine every day of his life? |
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The Lemon
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 5:16 am Post subject: |
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| That the average Korean has NEVER tried non-Korean food? |
Apart from the usual "Western" food, that's basically what I'm saying. Even the Chinese food is made through the Korean prism.
I admit I'm basing this on Kwangju, where I've been for three years, and it wouldn't surprise me if Koreans in Seoul or Pusan are more cosmopolitan. Indeed, when I was last at Ganga in the Financial Center in Seoul, the place was packed with yuppie Koreans.
But here's Kwangu, a city of 1.5 million people - that's bordering on megalopolis by North American standards - and there's no "international" food beyond the usual Western/Italian/pizza/burger/chicken restaurants (again, excluding Korean-style Chinese/Japanese places). No Thai, no Indian/Pakistani, Middle Eastern/Lebanese, no Mexican even (TGIF and Orange Hill don't count) no Vietnamese pho soup.. no anything. You can't even buy the basic ingredients for these cuisines. You have to order it in from Seoul.
And this isn't just because there are few foreigners here. It's because Kwangjuites - by their own admission - aren't interested in trying new cuisines. Of the hundreds of adult students I've discussed this with, exactly ONE has ever tried real Indian or Thai food, or any other cuisine I listed above. The rest just sort of scrunch their noses at the suggestion - "who would want to eat food from India?"
There was an Indian restaurant here two years ago, but it folded in months because the owners couldn't convince locals to give it a try.
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| do you think that the average Canadian yahoo is sampling a different culture's cuisine every day of his life? |
Take Halifax, a Mokpo-sized port city and regional center, 1/6th the size of Gwangju. It has thriving restaurants for almost every cuisine you could want. And the patrons are mostly WASP-y locals (usually in their 20s and 30s), not immigrants. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 5:54 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| But here's Kwangu, a city of 1.5 million people - that's bordering on megalopolis by North American standards - and there's no "international" food beyond the usual Western/Italian/pizza/burger/chicken restaurants (again, excluding Korean-style Chinese/Japanese places). No Thai, no Indian/Pakistani, Middle Eastern/Lebanese, no Mexican even |
In my hometown, Edmonton, I doubt that there are more than a couple of restaurants each for Thai, Indian, or Lebanese cuisine(I'm excluding fast food joints for the same reason that you exclude TGIF). Okay, that's more than Gwangju has, but not astronomically, especially when you consider that those ethnic groups in Edmonton are more likely to be part of the business-owning class than are the minority groups in Gwangju. I think you can get a lot of authentic Chinese stuff in Chinatown, but given that this area is located near the slums of Edmonton, I doubt that you have too many white suburbanites venturing out there for a meal. I think their business is predominantly from within the community itself. |
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Zed
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Shakedown Street
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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There's plenty of foreign cuisine available in Peterborough Ontario with its massive population of 70,000.
Swollen Head of the month award goes to: Maneatinghorse. Did you express the kind of disdain for your teachers as you were growing up that you are expressing toward those who choose to teach here? |
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Tony Danza's Houseguest
Joined: 24 Jan 2004
Location: Osan Dong
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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| On the other hand wrote: |
| In my hometown, Edmonton, I doubt that there are more than a couple of restaurants each for Thai, Indian, or Lebanese cuisine(I'm excluding fast food joints for the same reason that you exclude TGIF). Okay, that's more than Gwangju has, but not astronomically, especially when you consider that those ethnic groups in Edmonton are more likely to be part of the business-owning class than are the minority groups in Gwangju. I think you can get a lot of authentic Chinese stuff in Chinatown, but given that this area is located near the slums of Edmonton, I doubt that you have too many white suburbanites venturing out there for a meal. I think their business is predominantly from within the community itself. |
According to the Yellow Pages there are: 13 Thai restaurants; 14 Vietnamese restaurants; 7 Indian restaurants; 3 Korean restaurants; 20 Japanese restaurants; 3 Lebanese resaurants; 1 each of Caribbean, Malaysian, Filipino, and Moroccan.
I've never been to Edmonton, however, so I don't have any anecdotal evidence to support my statements. |
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kangnamdragon
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Fusion food is also very popular. |
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weatherman
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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| I venture to say that even if a Korean likes foreign food, he/she will hardly admit to it. For some reason they equate it with selling their soul. The concaved thinking allows for a sampling, but food will be unsuitable, even if it tastes good for various nutritional issues related to the food and their own constitution. |
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the_beaver
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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Just to throw in my 2 cents.
Next time you're in a TGI's or Outback or Indian restaurant or whatever, look at how many tables of only women there are compared to how many tables of only men.
Korean women tend to like foreign food but Korean men almost never (I've been counting this for years and have only seen a handful) go to a foreign-style restaurant without the company of Korean women. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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OTOH-TDH exchange:
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On the other hand wrote:
In my hometown, Edmonton, I doubt that there are more than a couple of restaurants each for Thai, Indian, or Lebanese cuisine(I'm excluding fast food joints for the same reason that you exclude TGIF). Okay, that's more than Gwangju has, but not astronomically, especially when you consider that those ethnic groups in Edmonton are more likely to be part of the business-owning class than are the minority groups in Gwangju. I think you can get a lot of authentic Chinese stuff in Chinatown, but given that this area is located near the slums of Edmonton, I doubt that you have too many white suburbanites venturing out there for a meal. I think their business is predominantly from within the community itself.
According to the Yellow Pages there are: 13 Thai restaurants; 14 Vietnamese restaurants; 7 Indian restaurants; 3 Korean restaurants; 20 Japanese restaurants; 3 Lebanese resaurants; 1 each of Caribbean, Malaysian, Filipino, and Moroccan.
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I hang my head in shame and stand corrected. Shows you how cosmopolitan I was back home!!
Last edited by On the other hand on Sat May 01, 2004 6:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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The Koreans I talk with consider Chinese and Japanese restaurants as providing foreign food, and some prefer them more than others. Pizza joints are popular in this smaller community as are take-out chicken.
None of these places are particularly Korean, though changes are made to accommodate local tastes.
No more than the fact that most Chinese food in Canada and America isn't really Chinese once you've eaten the real thing in China. And remember, the fortune cookie is an American invention.
That said , I think we shouldn't be comparing culinary choices in Korea with countries built on relatively recent immigration. Of course the latter would have more choices.
Just as it's no surprise that within Canada itself the immigrant city of Edmonton has a wider selection of restaurants than the cowtown of Calgary. I know because I've lived near both cities and have often eaten at the so-called ethnic restaurants.
Compare Korea with Japan or Vietnam for its variety of cuisine. Does it have more or less? |
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phaedrus
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Location: I'm comin' to get ya.
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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I know many Koreans, and their view of foreign food is picky at best.
My wife is very open, but still needs to mask or supplement most things with kimchi. It's like a fear almost.
Her family is basically flat out against Western food.
Stupid that people around the world can't open their minds, Koreans and Westerners.
I eat almost all Korean food, and don't whine about it. |
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wylde
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| weatherman wrote: |
| I venture to say that even if a Korean likes foreign food, he/she will hardly admit to it. For some reason they equate it with selling their soul. The concaved thinking allows for a sampling, but food will be unsuitable, even if it tastes good for various nutritional issues related to the food and their own constitution. |
yes.. very true..
talking about mcdonalds... i have taken many students on many occaisions and the majority will get bulgogi or chicken burgers..
when i ask the bulgogi bugers eaters why don't they have something different they reply that they only like korean food..
likewise, when i show them a sexy photo of somewhere in australia eg -
and then ask them if they want to go there... i want to punch them. the stupidity that comes out of their mouths is unbelievable..
'no. i don't want to go there, i only like korea'
they won't even entertain the idea.. just shut it out and talk about korea.. grrrr..
same with food, same with everything.. everything korean is best. 
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| I eat almost all Korean food, and don't whine about it. |
i don't eat very much and i do whine about it... it all tastes the same, it is made from the rubbish parts of all things and they enjoy going out and eating the same thing every single time...
it is quite boring if you ask me.. when compared to the variety of international cuisine, korean food is lacking badly... |
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the_beaver
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| No more than the fact that most Chinese food in Canada and America isn't really Chinese once you've eaten the real thing in China. And remember, the fortune cookie is an American invention. |
This is one of those things that I've never understood.
Sure the fortune cookie is American, and the all-you-can Chinese buffet places are not terribly Chinese, but a whole lot of the non-take-out Chinese food I had back home was pretty much the same as a whole lot of the Chinese food I had in China and Hong Kong. |
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