Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jkelly80]

This gets thrown around so much it has become (deservedly so) shorthand for a certain prevailing Korean mindset, namely that their culture and language are so inscrutable and unique that others cannot comprehend its complexity and majesty.

The Gochu seems to be a fan favorite here. The gochu and its jang are pretty hot, yes, but not unberably so. I dont' find Korean food any spicier than Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, etc. The fact that they like everything boiling when they eat it does cause me to sweat, perhaps giving the apperance of suffering from the maeun-ness of my jjigae. But it's usually just the fact that most of their food is insanely boiling hot.

It could be comparatively speaking, though, Korean food IS spicy, especially for its latitude. Given its latitude, Korean food may have been spicy in comparison to surrounding cuisines (China, Japan) in the last 400 years since the introduction of the gochu. The pepper doesn't seem to be a big ingredient in most cuisines over the same time period and latitude, pretty much the world over. I could be wrong on this point though.

Visiting dignitaries from China and Japan were probably unused to the heat in the cuisine, leading to a holdover mentality that we still have to hear about every time we sit down for a Korean meal with someone over the age of 35.

[princess]

hahaha...Even people 35 and under keep asking foreigners if kimchi is too hot or spicy. Every time I meet a new Korean, no matter their age, I get asked if I can eat spicy food, or I get those surprised looks and "wows" when they see me eating their so-caled spicy foods.

[Whistleblower]

I went to a restaurant ordered 삼지구이. A few minutes later my tasty grilled fish was delivered and I was delving in to it. During the middle of my meal, whilst I was tearing the fish apart with my chopsticks and scoffing my rice down, the owner came along and asked (in Korean) if I needed a fork. I looked at her and asked why and before she could finish I ate the lot and was on my way. She asked me if it was tasty and in a funny way I said that the fish was spicy and was glad not to have eaten the kimchi. She looked over and noticed that I finished the kimchi and laughed and apologised for the offer of the fork.

[paulandamy]

I don't know... some of the stuff labeled "hot" is really really hot. I ordered a freaking Ramen and couldn't finish it because it was killing all of my taste buds. (I mean, I guess it's not as bad as when I rubbed habanero into my eyes after making some hell fire chili but none the less...)

[eamo]

I've always believed that the modern Korean self-perception was born during the Park Chung-hee era. The 60's and 70's.

During that time, any old claim-to-fame was blown up out of proportion to support Korean-pride and drive Koreans forward in the non-stop campaign to make "Korea, no. 1!!".

Korea's 5000 year history was glorified. Korean social culture was revered as being morally superior to anywhere else. Hangeul was promoted as a perfect writing system ( ) and Korean food was pushed as extremely healthy and so spicy that only Koreans can eat it.

Anything that added to the idea of Korea being 'unique' was pushed to the max.

So, we still get all this crap today. About 50% of the time my Korean wife and I get served in a restaurant the waitress asks my wife if I can eat spicy food. Sometimes, I'm even offered a fork.

[samd]

A little while ago I ordered sundubujiggae from a small sikdang near my place.

It came out absolutely clear, without a single bit of spice of any kind in it. I was horrified because I like the stuff because it's normally pretty hot, and told the ajumma I wanted it spicy. She was very apologetic, and brought me out some chopped peppers and gochujang, but it wasn't the same. I choked it down and have never been back.

[Tommy]

My theory is they douse all their food with hot red sauce, because without it, most of the dishes are bland, or just plain taste like crap.

You ever eaten at a pizza joint in Korea? A of sprinkle of tabasco sauce is needed before every bite. Same thing at Dos Tacos - a squirt of red sauce before every bite of that taco. Kill your tastes buds much?

[StrayCat]

Korean food is not spicy period. Korean chilli peppers are very mild indeed. This is one of my pet hates about Koreans - "It's hot", "Wow! Westerners can use chopsticks?", etc.

Still, there are lots of things I like about Korea but the food is quite dull (he says coming into his 6th year in Korea).

Thai food is hot (not the Thai restaurants in Korea - they're catered for local palates and tourists only - you need to be in Thailand and away from those touristy areas). Those small Thai chilli peppers will blow your head off. Many dishes both tasty and hot.

To be honest, on the whole - Korean food is quite bland and limited in range compared to other Asian countries where I've lived. Rant over.

[PeteJB]

They ask that question (and act surprised) because traditionally most Westerners didn't eat spicy food. And still, the majority cannot eat spicy food the way many Koreans cannot handle sweet foods. The whiners on these forums need a rain check. You can't expect people to automatically know everyones tastes upon first meeting.

[eamo]

[Gollywog]

PeteJB wrote:

[Stevie_B]

[Whistleblower]

Friends (whom are Korean) tell me most of the time that I am virtually Korean as I can eat raw fish and other weird seafood, spicy food, peppers, etc. I just laugh and think about the mentality of the waitress at the local restaurant always asking me if I can eat Korean food.

However, I thought I would add a bit of positive to the much loved negative news. When I go out my door, there is a favourite restaurant that serves nice seafood Korean style pizza. I go there a lot with other Korean friends, family, etc and the staff there know me well and when I pass they say hello to me all the time. They know I can eat like anyone else and are pretty accomodating.

Koreans are pretty ethnocentric but and this is a big but, they are really friendly when you get to know them and they get to know you.

[StrayCat]

Agree with most of the above. However, the 'shock' when you use chopsticks as well or better than the locals (they really do think that the average Westerner is a barbarian anyway).

When this happens ("You can use chopsticks?"), I always act totally amazed and shocked when the aforementioned offender picks up a fork or spoon and eats...

"A Korean can use a fork?" and I make a big joke of it and get them laughing too (but I'm sure they still don't see the actual point I was trying to make at the time). Oh well...

[eamo]