What did foreigners feel about Korean food culture?

 Hello we are 문외한. And today we are talk about what did foreigners feel about Korean food culture?

We wanted to know how foreigners feel about Korean food culture. Each country has its own food culture and you will feel the difference between other countries and your country. Below are the good and bad points of food culture that foreigners felt in Korea. We interviewed three foreigners.(France) And the answer was same.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interview

Q : Tell me about your names and where did you come from?

A : My name is Uji, Gabriel, Evan And we are from France.

  - Uji

Q. What were the most difficult table manners to adapt to after coming to Korea?

A. All the food culture in Korea was good. But it was hard for me to get used to eating stew or soup with a big plate.

There is an opinion that it is a culture created by the lack of tableware as Korea became poor after Japanese colonial era and the Korean War. Currently, the number of people eating separately is increasing.

Q. What some table manners that were hard to tolerate?

A. I'll have to answer the same question. It was hard to understand and I couldn't get used to it. Because it was my first time seeing a culture where I shared stew or soup.

Q. What was the most different table manners in Korea from your own culture?

-A1. The biggest difference in most Korean restaurants was that all the food was served at once, unlike the country that came out in order of appetizer-main-dessert.

-A2. Unlike France, where all foods are cooked, it was fascinating to cook and eat meat, stew, etc. by myself.

                                                                          

Budaejjigae: Pour water or both into the ingredients provided and eat while boiling it yourself.

                                          

Korean Barbecue Restaurant: Raw meat is served and grilled or grilled by staff.

Q :  Is there any Korean table manners that you wish were in your country?

A : I was very envious of the many side dishes that were served free of charge before the meal came out, and the meals consisting of stew, rice, and side dishes. I wish I had it in my count                                             

                    

When you order food at a Korean restaurant, various side dishes come with it. The price of the ordered food includes side dishes, and the price does not get cheap even if you don't eat side dishes. If you want to eat more, you can ask for more, or you can bring it yourself and eat it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When you come to the Korean restaurant

1. You should sit where you want to sit, not wait until the employee shows you the seat. - In the case of China and Japan, employees guide them to their seats, but not in Korea.

2. After sitting down, you should press the bell installed next to you when the food you want to order is decided. - It reflects Koreans' fast habits. (Employees can bring menus themselves, or it can be hanging on the wall.) - Foreigners find it difficult to see the menu on the wall.

3. Put the spoon and chopsticks on the napkin. - In some cases, when customers are crowded for a long time, all employees may not be able to pay attention to the restaurant's table – doubts about hygiene – pick a paper napkin in advance and place a spoon and chopsticks on it before eating. - This behavior is one of the 'feel hygiene' of Koreans.

4. If you want to eat more, press the bell and talk to the employee.(Except for self-food bars.)

5. You should drink water when you finish eating. - Drinking a lot of water between meals seems to be unhealthy for Koreans. Therefore, drink a glass before and after meals. 

 - 한국인은 왜 이렇게 먹을까?(Why Koreans eat like that?) - 주영하(Ju Young Ha)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why Koreans use Napkins?

Answer : Korea, where the petrochemical industry began to start in the early 1970s, using bleached paper napkins with fluorescent whitening agents. However, the ministry of health and social affairs banned it in 1977 after several food scientists suggested that cancer could occur. After that happened however, several restaurants using bleached paper napkins have appeared, and newspapers have dealt with that problems severely. However, Koreans often use paper napkins because they tend to think that items that have undergone a "chemical process" are safe.

 - 한국인은 왜 이렇게 먹을까?(Why Koreans eat like that?) - 주영하(Ju Young Ha)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why Koreans sharing their foods?

Answer : Koreans tend to believe that sharing food creates "friendliness" with each other. Also, they like to share foods together. - If you don't like sharing foods with each other : ask the employees to give you extra dishes. (Extra plate: called apjeopshi.)

- 한국인은 왜 이렇게 먹을까?(Why Koreans eat like that?) - 주영하(Ju Young Ha)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you come to Korea, It might be unfamiliar about Korean food culture. But We think it's a cultural difference. 

Thank you for reading the long article.

And see you next time ^~^