Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TrouserX]

Hi folx

I'm spending a few days on Jeju (I'm there now) and Lonely Planet says Jeju is known for its horse meat and snake wine. But I'm at a loss on how I'm to find these things in Jeju city, on account of having forgotten my dictionary and phrasebook at home.

Is there a Jeju waygook out there who knows where such trifles can be procured in Jeju city? And what are the Korean words for "horse meat" and "snake wine" anyway?

Thanks muchly for your help!

PS. If you guys have any other reccomendations for things to eat, see or do on Jeju in the next 4 days or so, let me know!

[Ya-ta Boy]

If you are up for horse and snake wine, maybe you could be enticed to try the other specialty of Jeju-do---black pig. They are fed on excrement. Word is, it's good.

I'm guessing, but since 'ma' is horse, you could try asking for 'ma gogi' and see what happens.

[mindmetoo]

[gdimension]

There are quite a few places here in Jeju City to get horse (and it is tasty)...but, for the life of me, I don't think I could direct you to one in particular. Try this:

"Mal-gogi-jip aw-dee iss-aw-yo?": Where is a horse restaurant?
"Mal-gogi-jip ga ju-say-o.": I want to go to a horse restaurant (to a taxi driver).

As for snake wine...can't say as if I've ever seen it here (been here since '98 ), although I have seen it on the mainland. I think it would be known as either bam-ju or bam-sool, though.

While here...

My favorite beach is Geum-neung Beach (next to Hyup-jae Beach in Hallim).

Hallim Park is cool: plants, animals, caves...

Jeju Waterworld just opened up at the Worldcup Stadium in Seogwipo (slides, wavepools, etc.). Haven't been there yet, but might be nice (though expensive - W35,000).

Jungmoon is nice, though pricey. Have a drink at the Shilla Hotel, where Bill Clinton and others have done the same.

Yakcheonsa Temple near Jungmoon - has the largest statue of Buddha in NE Asia.

Check out my blog for some pics of these and small hikes/other places I have visited here on the island and/or PM me for more detailed questions.

Good luck.

[Jeff's Academy]

Between E Mart and New World Valley in Shin Jeju there is a place doing mal gogi shabu shabu. It is directly opposite one of the two entrances to the New World Valley indoor/basement parking lot. The entrance nearer the 'big road'. Don't know the name of it. Haven't been there. New World Valley is an EMart look alike, but pale pink in color.

Have been to a mal gogi place in Shin Jeju that is "very famous", and had a 'course' that included horse sashami, bulgogi, dongasu, shabu shabu...pretty much every style of cooking meat available, all done with the horse.

Probable much better an experience than just the shabu shabu. Roughly, find yourself in front of the Grand Hotel. Exit to the main street, go right. At the first traffic light, turn right. Go straight, a little up a hill, and you'll see a hotel and parking lot (lot first, can't remember the name of the hotel but it's about 9 stories high) on the left. If you turn and face the parking lot, you'll be looking at the mal gogi place on the other side. Can't remember the name. Go into the hotel and ask the questions gdimension cited and I think they'll be able to sort you out.

All of this is in walking distance of the Grand Hotel.

Good luck. And report back on your success, please.

Oh, and gdimension, I really enjoy looking at your blog. Good work on presenting Jeju in a casual way. Keep up the good work.

[gdimension]

[Pulgasori]

Snake Wine/alcohol, according to my students is simply soju with a dead snake in the bottle. They say it's 'GOOD FOR HEALTH' but doesn't alter the taste.

[JacktheCat]

Snake wine is pretty good, especially the kind with the dead snake floating in the bottle. It's supposed to be a very powerful "night stamina" drink.

Horse meat can be hit or miss. Unfortunately the meat is quite often from an older horse that was no longer useful, and thus the meat can be very tough and stringy. If you can get a younger horse, it's not bad at all. Slightly chewy with a strong, smokey flavour.

[SHANE02]

I tried horse sushimi (whatever its called) in Tokyo. It was yummy, but my sister who is a horse freak was offended that it could even be on a menu. Thank god she couldnt read the part about fresh whale.

I have tried the famous Jeju pig meat. That was in seoul. At the time I didnt know those pigs live on sh_t. The meat was tender and delicious if a bit pricey.