What I ate in Korea

[Raymond Lin]

As titled, inspired from the other thread, thought I would just post some photos of some of the things I had. I didn't photograph the hotel breakfast much but the view was good and I did try these.

Kimchi & some dried fish and peanuts....toppings/sides for theudon.







So...

Day 1 Seoul -> Busan

Cheese cake on the train, got from a place call Paris Baguette.



Got to Busan and went to Lotte Mall and they were closing so got these cheap. Some weird Korea sushi with mussels as toppings. Some REALLY spicy fried chicken and even more spicy fried rice....



I had no idea what this is, not that nice, I think it is rice milk?



Day 2

Another mystery drink, I do this on purpose...buy drinks i can't get elsewhere. This was okay, it taste like roasted something in the photo.



Korea Busan style fish cake.



Then went to this place...



They sold (and I knew this before hand), bugs...?



I had octopus instead.





In the afternoon I was in a rush to another place and grabbed a cold beef burger sliders



Dinner was a stone pot rice pot, everything in this is spicy, including the soup.....the kimchi was the least spicy thing. Looking at that brings back the memory of my mouth on fire.





Dessert



Late night snack from the supermarket.



Seen these crisps on a food vlogg before. No idea of the flavour....I think it was honey? honey frog?! Who knows?!





Day 3

Breakfast







Now in Seoul.

Shaved ice





it was after 4pm so the stalls are setting up their street stalls.



But I went and found a Korean corndog. They cover it in sugar, mayo and ketchup





Korean Fish cake





Squid time







Day 4

Lunch, they love their sides





Dinner - wanted Cococurry



Day 5

I went to Shake Shack



Ramen



Tteok-bokki (Rice cake)



Day 6

Korean Fried Chicken, unlimited radish (white squares) and nachos to be had.



I ate more, like McDonalds and Starbucks, but I still not had loads of things, in particular....Korean BBQ....food regret!

 

[Raymond Lin]

In part, yes, in part, no.


The Fried Chicken they cover them in sauce, you don’t do that in the west at all.

The burger was from Paris Baguette, their version of Gregg’s, but 10x better.


The stuff that really make it Korea I didn’t eat as a lot of them are in restaurants that caters for group and they some don’t serve single persons. If they do, you will need to order 2 person portions, they don’t do single person portions. I was limited to mostly where I can eat by myself so the curry place is actually Japanese, the Ramen too was Japanese.


There are a ton of Korean stuff I didn’t try, the BBQ, the one where there is a big pan in the middle that you fry everything in, there was the Army stew, the North Korean Cold Noodles, sea food at the fish market (this was during Covid so I tried to avoid raw food) as one of the dishes was freshly killed squid that still moves.

Oh, traditional Korean full has a TON of sides, 1 main dish and minimum of like half a dozen sides. Lots of pickles too, lots.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I think as Raymond points out, whilst the "base" of the food might be very similar, it's the flavourings and the way that it's cooked that's likely very different from the west. Plus some of the things that's served up with it is very different.

Did you go recently @Raymond Lin? Looks like a lot of people wearing masks.

It was the week when Daegue had that spike of infections?

 

[Raymond Lin]

That all looks a hell of a lot better than the food I ate North of the DMZ. Most of it was fairly unidentifiable, this for example:

I think I know what half of those are....

I see seaweed sheets at the far side.
Closest is rice obviously.
Above it is fish?
Then to its right is what japanese call konnyaku, a zero calorie vegetable thing.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2017/03/17/food/mysteries-konnyaku-health-food-aid-choking-hazard/

To the right of that is tofu soup.
Then above that looks like thinly sliced squid? Then cake, and then to the right of that could be anything.
Some greens like Morning Glory.....something..and then dried fish to the right?

No idea top left.

 

[Raymond Lin]

We never did identify most of them.

Rice was the obvious one, we ate a lot of white rice in North Korea. Top left was something sweet with the texture of crushed nuts. The yellow and white thing was egg. Third down from the top on the left hand side was ginseng kimchi was was utterly delicious. Cabbage kinchi is nice but this stuff was something else.

The soup tasted like most of the soups we had there - of salt. I've never heard of konnyaku, but reading the description that sure sounds like that's what it was.

The first time I had konnyaku was my first trip to Japan in 2017. I took an impromptu stop at Kobe for some Wagyu and one of the starter/sides was Konnyaku. The chef tried to explained to me what it was, I heard something about potatoes and zero calorie and it looking harmless so I just ate it. It was like jelly in texture. It wasn’t about a year later when I came across another vlog on Japan I saw it explained.

 

[Raymond Lin]

@Raymond Lin I reckon we've got pretty similar tastes, certainly we both see the value in good food but also love eating from a cart in the street and getting something junky from 7-11. We also both have a love for Japan, and I have a keen desire to go Korea. So, that being said, should I go to Korea (mainly Seoul) to scratch my itch of going somewhere new, or should I do something I rarely do and return back somewhere, in this case Japan? I absolutely loved Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto) and it's the only place that has ever made me really want to go back so soon but I do think I should give Korea a go.

So, advise! Is Korea on par with Japan? Will I go and wish I went back to Japan?

In short, Japan is more interesting. For a tourist, Japan > Korea.

The long version is...

I had already been to Japan twice at this point, this was back in October 2019, in November I was itching to go away again. Part of me wanted to go to Japan again and a part of me want to go to somewhere new. Original plan was Singapore but I found out that Singapore was way over what I had budgeted so I quickly scrapped that idea.

During this time I had been started to following this girl on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/user/blurrysmiles

(I also follow this Canadian couple call Simon and Martina who now in Japan and was in Korea for 6 years and watched lots of their videos)

She is an American married to a Korea living in Seoul and videos mostly Korea stuff (through Covid and all), and it was quite interesting on video so I thought I'd give Korea a go.

So then since I am going to Korea the Japan loving side of me thought....why not go to Japan too? It's only across a bit of water! So I did, Japan for the 3rd time. I will make a separate thread on Japanese food that I ate later on. Anyway, I went to Osaka and Kyoto again just because, also took a trip to Himeji Castle for the day. Then I popped over to Korea for a week, starting with Busan then Seoul.

Here is what I came away with:-

Korea, I think this is due to its history and the many conflicts in the 20th century, it has been FLATTENED many times, almost everything is built since either WW2 or Korean War, what is left are either rebuilt or anything original from the old old days are few and far between. Compared to Japan, aside from the 2 Atomic Bombs and Tokyo, most of other parts of Japan escaped pretty unscathed. Also, Japan's main islands (besides Okinawa) has never ever been invaded successfully. The Mongolians tried, twice, and failed. It was also completely closed off to the world for 200 years from about 1700's so in those 200 years it developed a lot of interesting traditions that is fascinating which a lot is still around today (Geisha for example). Japan also has many laws that is specific to preserve traditions, both the physical arts and crafts, and also buildings. They would often build around something old than let developers flattern it.

Take this for example, a random temple I found.

You see, I find this just pure awesome. In the middle of a shopping mall no less. This is besides the whole Otaku and Anime scene. I always allow an afternoon in Akihabara to just browse and window shop even though i don't buy any Manga or Anime there (don't understand a word), I just like the area and love looking at the figurines.

Korea, has not much of that. There really no place like Akihabara or DenDen Town. The history are limited to the palaces and a couple of temples. Japan has lots of Castles, Temples, Shrines, Pagodas just everywhere. Kyoto alone probably have more Unesco World Heritage sites alone than all of Korea. Also, due to all the new building, the city itself feels quite plain and bland. Everywhere feels the same really. The streets on Busan looks like it could be in Seoul and vice versa, besides the fact the Busan is next to the sea.

That's not to say Korea is bad, I mean there is the DMC (was closed when I went), if you are into K-pop then it is a must go. Hongdae with the university students (or just the teenagers) trying to be the next K-Pop star is very interesting to watch. Korean food is very good, the spice thing is real and if you like spicy, you will like the food. Korean drinking culture (albeit I didn't part take) looks fun, they often have their food alongside drinking so that is always good.

What is not good for a solo traveller in Korea is their their culture is more a group hangout culture so eating out it can be limiting as some places only serves 2+ persons. There are more places cater for solo eating but unlike Japan, Japan is solo traveller's dream, with it's Ramen booths and conveyor belt sushi and Cococurry etc. I have never been turned away anywhere because i am eating alone in Japan. I went to some quite expensive Waygu beef place in Kobe by myself no problem.

I think Korea is worth a visit, but I distinctly recall when I left was that "Japan is better". I would go back for the food, but I wouldn't rush back to see the city.

I am sure that is quite a ramble, and probably sounds like I found Korea very bad and boring. It may be because i went by myself, a lot of the activities are for couples for groups, like they have "Instagram" spots but that is useless for me! Where in Japan if you go to a famous spot for photo (like the Torii gate in the water near Hakone), people line up and it is an unwritten rule the person behind you will take photo for you. I didn't see such a rule in Korea, or perhaps they are all in groups!

Also some of the cultural things in Korea you got to know first before you go. Like don't be surprise if people don't hold the door for you even if they are just in front, they just don't. It is a culture of age, so older person immediately demand respect. Even if they are strangers.

Story time.

On the underground, the end seats by the door is designated for elderly or pregnant women or the physically disabled, but when it is dead on the train you'd think no one would care. So one time I saw a young girl sitting on the end seat, next stop on came an old guy, by old he is probably about 50-60? He saw her sitting where she shouldn't and went over to shout at her, kicked the base of the seat she was sitting at. She was very startled (was looking at her phone), saw him then immediately ran off to the other end of the carriage.

He didn't sit down though, he just wanted to make a point.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Wow all looks great how was the shake shack

Tastes just like the one from New York and Tokyo

 

[Raymond Lin]

Thanks for the reply Raymond!
I think it echoes what I already thought. However I didn’t actually think about visiting both Seoul and Tokyo. Flights between the two are very cheap so that’s looking like a good solution.

I found Korea in general is cheaper than Japan, by about 20-25%.

Hotels I found in general, Korea to be cheaper. I stayed 5 nights in a 5 star for £350 including breakfast (the photo where the breadfast was high up). So that's like £70 a night, in Tokyo I would be expecting to pay like £120 to £150 for something similar.

Seoul has 2 airports, one is about an hour out and one is in the city. A bit like Tokyo. So if you fly between the inner city airports both ways you can save some time. Note that there is an airport in Busan if you want to go there, internal flights can be like £50, or you can take the train which takes twice as long for like £75 lol which I did because I forgot there was an airport until after.

There are enough to spend 4-5 nights in Seoul to do, a couple of Palaces, Seoul tower, the Bukchon Village, the Lotte Tower, there is a Korean version of Disneyland by Lotte, eat and then eat some more.

But the feeling i came away with was that Seoul is like Japan, but less interesting. I don't see the quirks like Salary men drinking, or people playing Pokemon Go, or Shrines in random places things like that.

Oh, one thing I don't really like is salesman in shops in Korea, they are quite pushy, they really do try to sell you stuff. In Japan they leave you alone until you ask for help. That bit is complete 180.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Amazing video, and i very much enjoyed reading about the contrasting experiances. Korea is supposed to be hip these days, not just because of K-Pop but also cinema, I know a lot of Japanese and Chinese young people are eagarly learning Korean because of the cultural significance. Sad to read so little of it has survived. I once saw two girls in London in traditional Korean garbs walking down Regent Street, as you do, and thought they were one of the most beautiful traditional dresses i've ever seen. Out of interest, what lenses do you use when you travel?

Korean cultures these days are certainly trendy but a lot of the things I find is hard to find on the ground in Korea. Korean cinema itself, you don’t interact with it when you are in Seoul, I mean there are lots of movie locations in Korea if that’s your thing. Learning Korean too seems cool, but like Japanese, outside their respective countries, their language is next to useless compared to English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, unless you go to a Korea restaurant. I had a quick look into their language and it is quite simple to learn, the entire language was designed that way because originally they used Chinese and to simplify things and to create their own, they had a scholar who created Hangul which is the modern Korean language. You will still see the odd Chinese character here and there however but compared to Japan, it is much less.


Oh yes, their traditional outfits, big dresses, it is strange that they are very colourful, but modern Korean fashion is very muted in comparison.


On this trip I used the Sigma 24-70 Art. Normally I just use a 35mm.

 

[Raymond Lin]

We honeymooned in Japan, many years ago and absolutely loved it. I thought that shrine was going to be the one in Nishiki Market in Kyoto at first. I also thought that was awesome, just walking down a narrow street full of shops and stalls, and then you look around a corner and... a shrine with a 1000-year history! I've been itching to go back for years. Even learned the language for a few years.

It's very expensive for a family of four, though. Given we've lost our holiday this year we're now planning a family holiday there the year after next. I will look out for your Japanese food thread in anticipation!

That shrine is quite big compare to that one, and it is in the middle of the market too. Regardless of size, they are preserved and they are all kept and looked after. Korea unfortunately don’t have this. There are the odd massive palace, temples and the odd neighbourhood with old houses that clump together but it feels like everything is post WW2 and it ends up every neighbourhood looking very similar. The 2nd to last day I was walking, actually in one of the more interesting neighbourhood, the Bukchon Village, one of the few that survived WW2/Korean War. I saw 3 people talking in English and literally as I walked passed, one of them said “this city is very dull, looks the same everywhere”. I wanted to butt in a said “I KNOW!”

I know it is not their fault that their country had so much conflict in the 20th Century, but it really shows in their architecture. Japan too has the same feel if you walk around in local neighborhoods, they do look similar but they are broken up by plenty of old traditional buildings, and a lot of them still builds the design but with modern techniques. Then there are a random Shrine all over the place

Any old Korean houses still around today are tourist destinations, like Bukchon Village, people still live there. The closest thing to that would be like the Gion District in Kyoto but people mostly go there to spot Geisha (and ruining it because they harass them for photos, so now photos is banned in Gion)

I've been to Japan twice but never seen the parts that most people show pictures of.

Both times were to Hokkaido in winter for snowboarding. First time was just into Niseko and out again. Second time went and explored some bleak fishing town (Otaru) and checked out the Sapporo ice festival.

Need to go back and see the rest of the country sometime. The food is incredible, getting off the mountain and devouring mountains of gyoza, lazing around in the onsen. Loved it.

The snow is absolutely amazeballs as well.

Hokkaido is on the list, the most northern part i've been to is Sendai but next time.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I don't know, i think learning a language is such a struggle, at least for me there has to be a motive beyond utalitarinism, an enjoyment and appreciation of the cultue and people. I take your point cinema and wider Korean culture, but i'm curious if they point a cultural dynamism of its people, so I'm always curious to hear about experiances like yours. I invested in a Nikon Z6 last year after many years away from photography, I'm trying to decide what lenses to invest in next year for travel, though my trusty kit 24-70 f/4 has been a solid starter. Thanks for sharing your work and experiances, very inspiring.

I like to learn Japanese, just because I like their culture so I can understand that, but I also want to visit Japan lots so I would be able to use it too.

I know 4 words in Korean. The words for Hello/Bye (its the same word), Thank you, Fish cake and middle age women.

We honeymooned in Japan, many years ago and absolutely loved it. I thought that shrine was going to be the one in Nishiki Market in Kyoto at first. I also thought that was awesome, just walking down a narrow street full of shops and stalls, and then you look around a corner and... a shrine with a 1000-year history! I've been itching to go back for years. Even learned the language for a few years.

It's very expensive for a family of four, though. Given we've lost our holiday this year we're now planning a family holiday there the year after next. I will look out for your Japanese food thread in anticipation!

Thread now up!