This is Korea Blog

The Illuminating Bridge of Dolsandaegyo

Nowadays, aside from providing travel convenience and connecting places to places; bridges, being powered with high-technology, have become a favorite subject for aesthetic photos and are now becoming popular as attractions. At 450m long and 11.7m wide, Dolsandaegyo Bridge is the largest cable-stayed bridge in Korea. Since its construction in 1984, the bridge, which connects…

Bossam: a feast for all

Bossam, one of Korea’s popular pork dishes, is nothing short of a feast for many. Bossam, or boiled pork, is usually served with slated napa cabbage leaves, radish salad, and salted shrimp. If the mood strikes, oysters are included in this Korean dish and bossam is then called gul-bossam. The process requires attention to detail,…

Tteokgalbi is burger patty, Korean-style

The tteokgalbi is a compound word and its direct translation means ‘rib rice cake’ which is more of a luxurious beef patty than a regular, commoner food. Rib cuts are pretty expensive and tteok dishes are often served during important Korean holidays. But then again, when you look at the history of tteokgalbi as a…

Exploring the East Coast by Sea Train

A great, fun-filled and of course the most exciting way to survey the very beautiful east coast of Korea is none other than boarding the Sea Train which holds tons of surprises. The tourist train stretches from Jeongdongjin to Samcheok and is comprised of four divided cabins with special rooms, one standard room and one…

Chewy, spicy, delicious tteokbokki

Tteokbokki or stir-fried rice cakes are popular Korean street food; sold either in pojangmacha (street stalls). Spotting tteokbokki while on a crowded street isn’t that hard – the red, and soupy treat stands out from the rest of the stuff sold along the streets of Korea. The Korean dish is made from garatteok, or the…

The Brilliant Castle: Hwaseong Fortress

More than just a historical landmark, this UNESCO world Heritage site, Hwaseong Fortress (which means Brilliant Castle/Fortress), is considered a national treasure for its wonderful origin, and is also the epitome of the rich Joseon Dynasty. The establishing of the fortress marks the development of Korean architecture, urban planning, landscaping and related arts. The majestic…

Samgyupsal: in the company of the King

In many Korean restaurants across the globe, samgyupsal is King and while in Korea this might not entirely be the case, it still is a favorite in the vast Korean food repertoire – so much so that March 3 is dedicated to samgyupsal, and is rightfully called Samgyupsal Day. Imagine this setting: a Korean restaurant…

Round and round the bindaetteok goes

In Korea, the bumchigae or pancake family is rarely sweet but is commonly packed with ingredients and eaten as a side dish to an elaborate meal spread. This is especially true with haemul pajeon and kimchi bumchigae, but perhaps in this category of Korean food none is as packed as the bindaetteok or the mung…

Striking visuals for jajangmyeon

Jajangmyeon has a black sauce, and visually it looks a little unusual – with yellow pickled radish as an optional and very delicious side and an egg, if the menu says so. Jajangmyeon is directly translated as noodles with black bean sauce, and it was originally a Chinese dish that first appeared in the port…

The warmth of doenjang-jjigae

Central to Korean food is the tradition of fermentation which gave birth to several health-benefitting food varieties including kimchi, ganjang (soy sauce), gochujang (chili paste) and doenjang (soybean paste). The fermented nature of the dish aids in digestion and cancer prevention, among many others.   Doenjang-jjigae is milder than its comrades in the stew department…

The Spectacular Jusangjeolli Cliff

Here’s a cliff that, unlike any other cliffs you’ve ever seen in your whole life. The strangely unique and detailed columns of the Jusangjeolli Cliff will make it hard for you to believe that it isn’t of Nature’s work of art, but an attraction made by human hands. Hailed as Korea’s Giant Causeway (from North…