Korean Job Discussion Forums

Lukychrm42 · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Cheonan

I've decided that the problem of Koreans always calling their food spicy isn't because they think we westerner's don't like it, but it's a fault of the English language!

I mean, chili and garlic are practically the only seasonings for food here... and since we call seasonings spices, and also use the word spicy to refer to the burning in the mouth... they're perfectly logical in saying incessantly, "You must think Korean food is very SPICY," they merely mean that the flavors of chili and garlic are ubiquitous here. The flavors of chili and garlic are overpowering. Therefore, Korean food IS only spice-y.

Sorry- that's what happens when a mini-aha moment comes because you need to go to bed. I'll be quiet now.
Good night!

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

you have it backasswards

it's not the fault of the E language - it's the fault of those who misuse, abuse and generally don't appreciate E as a language !!

but then again

Ks don't appreciate a lot of things - spices being one of them

they don't understand the use of spices in cooking or how to use them or that smothering perfectly good food with chili sauce/hot peppers is how NOT to cook, not the other way around.

the food is NOT spicy - Indian food, now that's spicy - plentiful and generous with spices -

K food, nah, just plain, well, blah - Laughing

Ultimo Hombre · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Location: BEER STORE

HOT PEPPER PASTE IS JUST OVERKILL ON SPICE!

Indians and Mexicans use spices properly...to add flavor and zest. Not to burn your head off.

This thread is stupid.

The_Source · Joined: 09 Oct 2008

I think Koreans are afraid that foreigners will eat up all their food. When they tell us it's too spicy for us, that's their way of trying to dissuade us from eating it.

VanIslander · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject:

Korean food is not very spicy no matter how you use the words.

It's spicy but not very spicy.

That's obvious to anyone from outside of Korea who likes nonKorean spicy foods.

KYC · Joined: 11 May 2006

Their food is not the spiciest...but it's sometimes spicy.

Take the soup I had for the lunch yesterday...it was a perfectly normal vegetable soup...that they smothered in some chilly paste which made my throat burned when I swallowed it. What a good way to kill the flavor...

santafly · Joined: 20 Feb 2008

I delight in telling my students I can eat gochujang with a spoon - basically tastes like ketchup without the salt

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

That's not true, I get "안매웠어?" all the time. They mean 'hot' spicy.