View Comments to “SeoulPodcast #54: Analyze These”

1. karl Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 2:38 am

   Regarding yaki mandoo containing waste food. I remember reading an earlier edition of Lonely Planet for Seoul (published pre-2000). In it they described boodaechigae (soldier stew) as having its origins as a stew made from food American GI’s tossed in the garbage. That description seems to have been excised from later editions (err the opinion was corrected). But the origins are passed on on the web:

   http://www.yelp.com/biz/sarang-bang-sacramento

2. Chae Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 7:13 am

   My grandmother very matter-of-factedly told us that is the origin of the stew. When I was young, she would recollect her experience during the Korean war and the “piiran” or “fleeing of war” and things she has seen and things she had to do. It was a time of black desperation and of abject, relentless poverty. And if I had to eat half-spoiled food scraps, I would cook it exactly the way boodaejjigae is cooked: boil the living shit out of it.

   As for marriage gift envelope, I remember going with my mom to weddings in late 70′s and money envelopes were presented then too, so it’s not a 80′s invention. My mom loved weddings because she could take my brother and I and we’d get back every won and them some cleaning out the food tables. I cleaned off 16 bowls of ghalbitang once as a 8 year old.

3. Joe Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 10:23 am

   Ah cool. Okay. I gotta stop using Eun Jeong as a source so much.

4. Roboseyo Says:
   May 14th, 2009 at 1:06 pm

   I don’t know, Joe. It could become a running gag. Even a new section: “And now for Eunjeong says…” and then make up a bunch of crazy stuff.

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