Popular Types of Gimbap in Korea

#Gimbap, often referred to as the Korean version of sushi, is a beloved and versatile dish in Korean cuisine. It consists of rice and various fillings rolled in seaweed, making it a convenient and portable meal. 

With its combination of flavors, textures, and the ability to customize with different fillings, gimbap has become a staple food that Koreans enjoy on a daily basis. 

Below are some of the most popular varieties of gimbap in Korea.

1. #Classic Gimbap

The most iconic version of #gimbap, made by rolling rice with a variety of ingredients such as pickled radish, cucumber, carrot, egg, and ham. Simple and easy to enjoy anywhere, it’s a favorite snack or light meal. Classic gimbap comes in many variations, such as tuna, bulgogi, kimchi, tonkatsu, and vegetable gimbap. Affordable and widely available at convenience stores, supermarkets, and street vendors, gimbap has become a beloved "Korean sandwich" that anyone can enjoy.

2. #Mini Gimbap (#Kkoma Gimbap)

A miniature version of classic gimbap, perfect for a single bite. This smaller size makes it ideal for children’s snacks, picnics, or serving guests. Its portability and convenience make it easy to enjoy as a quick, tasty meal or snack on the go.

3. #Chungmu Gimbap

Originating from the coastal region of Chungmu in Gyeongsangnam-do, this gimbap is traditionally made without any fillings, consisting only of rice and seaweed. It is served with spicy stir-fried squid and radish kimchi, making it a flavorful dish with chewy squid and a spicy kick. Chungmu gimbap offers a taste of the sea and is perfect for those who enjoy bold, savory flavors.

4. #Nude Gimbap

A variation of the California roll, the "Nude Gimbap" is unique because the rice is wrapped inside the seaweed rather than the traditional method of wrapping the seaweed around the rice. The fillings often include fresh ingredients like avocado, imitation crab, cucumber, and carrot. This distinctive style gives it a sleek, minimalist look, which is why Koreans have coined the term "Nude Gimbap." The name comes from the fact that the seaweed is “inside” the rice, giving the gimbap a bare, almost “naked” appearance. This fresh and clean taste has made it a popular choice among gimbap enthusiasts.

In addition to these types, Korea offers a wide variety of gimbap, each with its own distinct flavors and styles. Gimbap is not only versatile but also deeply ingrained in Korean culture, making it an ideal meal for people of all ages and occasions.

Korean Dishes Featuring Kimchi: A Culinary Delight

 #Kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisine, known for its bold flavors and health benefits. This fermented vegetable dish, typically made from cabbage and radishes, is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of delicious Korean recipes. Here are some popular Korean dishes that prominently feature kimchi:

1. #Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew)

Kimchi Jjigae is a classic Korean stew made with kimchi as the main ingredient. It typically includes pork or tuna, tofu, and vegetables, simmered together to create a spicy and savory dish. It’s a comforting meal that pairs perfectly with a bowl of rice and is a staple in many Korean households.

2. Kimchi Fried Rice

Kimchi Fried Rice combines the tangy flavors of well-fermented kimchi with rice, creating a quick and tasty meal. The kimchi adds a spicy kick to the rice, and adding eggs or cheese can enhance the dish's flavor and richness. It’s an easy and satisfying option for breakfast or a quick dinner.

3. Kimchi Jeon (Kimchi Pancakes)

Kimchi Jeon is a Korean-style pancake made with chopped kimchi mixed into a batter of flour or pancake mix. These pancakes are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the kimchi providing a spicy and savory flavor. They make a great snack or side dish.

4. Kimchi Ramen

Kimchi Ramen incorporates kimchi into ramen noodles, creating a spicy and flavorful soup. The addition of kimchi enhances the ramen broth, providing a rich and deep flavor. It’s a convenient and comforting meal that’s perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.

5. Kimchi Jjim (Braised Kimchi)

Kimchi Jjim is a braised dish where kimchi is cooked with pork or other ingredients. The fermentation of the kimchi imparts a unique, robust flavor to the dish, making it a flavorful and satisfying meal. It’s often served with rice and is a favorite comfort food.

6. Kimchi Gimbap (Kimchi Roll)

Kimchi Gimbap is a Korean sushi roll where kimchi is used as a key ingredient. The spicy kimchi is rolled with rice and various fillings like vegetables, beef, or fish in a sheet of seaweed. It makes for a delicious and portable meal or snack, combining the tangy kick of kimchi with the savory flavors of gimbap.

7. Dubu Kimchi (Tofu with Kimchi)

Dubu Kimchi is a simple yet flavorful dish featuring tofu served with kimchi. The tofu is often pan-fried or steamed and paired with sautéed kimchi, creating a balanced and nutritious meal. The mild flavor of tofu complements the spicy, tangy kimchi, making it a popular choice for a light but satisfying dish.

Kimchi’s versatility in Korean cuisine allows it to be used in a wide range of dishes, each showcasing its distinctive tangy and spicy flavors. Whether you’re making a stew, fried rice, pancakes, or rolls, incorporating kimchi adds depth and excitement to your meals.

Source:ChatGPT 

Cost-effective travel to Korea: Jjimjilbang

 Jjimjilbang is one of the traditional bathhouse cultures of Koreans. It offers a variety of spa services and amenities. Jjimjilbang means ‘heated room’ in Korean, and the Korean jjimjilbang is a concept that combines bathing facilities, sauna facilities, and simple leisure culture. In other words, for Koreans, a bathhouse and a Jjimjilbang are different concepts. Bathhouses are mainly places where you can enjoy a bath and a simple sauna, and they usually close between 5:30 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. On the other hand, most Jjimjilbangs are open 24 hours a day. Korean Jjimjilbang is a different concept from the sauna that foreigners are generally familiar with. A jjimjilbang in Korea can be said to be a complex play space that provides not only bathing facilities and various types of sauna facilities, but also a sleeping room, entertainment facilities, a restaurant and snack corner, and a relaxation area. 

At one time, sauna fashion with a sheep's head-shaped hood was popular in Korea. Some saunas become famous for their food and attract a constant stream of customers, while others become famous for their massage facilities with their own unique characteristics.

 The merits of a jjimjilbang, where you can enjoy various amenities and meals in a 24-hour warm space, also make it attractive to people from other regions as an overnight lodging option instead of expensive hotels. Besides, on Friday nights and weekends, some women visit this jjimjilbang with their own families or close friends to enjoy bathing and sauna facilities, playing and chatting all night long. They call it 'a spa date'.

Most popular Jjimjilbangs offer Wi-Fi, and some have mini libraries.

How to use: Reservation is not necessary. On-site purchase is more common, and if you pay at the reception, you will be provided with a sauna suit and towel, as well as a key to your personal locker. Some places require you to pay a low fee for blankets and mattresses, while others provide them for free, but in most cases, they are available for a low price of between $1 and $3. One thing to note is that Jjimjilbangs are much cheaper than hotels for overnight, but unlike hotels, once you enter and leave, you cannot enter without paying again.

Price: The average price during the day is between $5 and $15, but when using it at night, the price is usually between $10 and $25. Sometimes saunas operated by hotels or jjimjilbangs with luxurious facilities are slightly more expensive.

   In Korea, jjimjilbangs can be easily found anywhere in the country, but many are closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, you can easily find various saunas and Jjimjilbangs in Seoul or other big cities through an Internet search.

Korean Jjimjilbangs are used by people of all ages, from grandmothers to young couples. In addition to the typical sauna and spa facilities, big and large Jjimjilbangs often have restaurants, outdoor swimming pools, hair and nail salons, and karaoke rooms or massage parlors in the same space.

Korean jjimjilbangs also offer a variety of sauna types. These saunas come in a variety of sauna rooms with different temperatures and made of different materials, including salt rooms, charcoal rooms, amethyst gem rooms, and red clay rooms, each with their own unique health benefits.

#travel_korea

#travel_korea_sauna

#travel_korea_spa centre

#korean spa_Jjimjilbang

#cheap_accomodation

#travel_korea_cost-effective trip

#cost-effective_travel

#Jjimjilbang

#korean_complex_spa_center

#travel_korea_entertain

#backpacker

#travel_korea_backpacker

Fu Bao and Kang Bao are the hot issues in Korea

 Fu Bao is Kang Bao's eternal baby panda, the first to be born through natural breeding in Korea. Kang Bao is Fu Bao's breeder. His name is Cheol-won, but Koreans call him Kang Hal Bu-ji or Kang Bao. Hal bu-ji means grandfather in Korean.

 

The story of Fu Bao and zookeeper Kang Cheol-won is a very warm and touching story. Fu Bao is Korea's first naturally bred panda born at Everland. He was born on July 20, 2020. Fu Bao's parents are Ai Bao and Le Bao from China, which mean 'gift of love' and 'gift of joy' respectively. The name Fubao means ‘gift of happiness’.

Zookeeper Kang Cheol-won is Fu Bao's grandfather and a strong supporter of the Bao family. Kang Bao worked hard to help the panda couple adapt to Korea and helped with the birth and growth of Fu Bao. Kang Bao, who is Fu Bao's hal bu-ji developed a special rapport with Fu Bao by playing with him, pranking him, and nagging him. Fu Bao became a hot topic as he was seen following Kang Bao around like a piece of gum since he was a baby. The scene of Fu Bao being cute to Kang Bao, and sometimes playing pranks on her by covering her ears, became explosively popular on YouTube. In particular, the scene where baby Fu Bao grabbed Grandfather's leg and refused to let go to ask him to play became a hot topic on YouTube.

The chemistry between Fu Bao and Kang Bao brought laughter, happiness, emotion, and comfort to many people. Fu Bao and Kang hal bu-ji are eternal friends and family. If you would like to know more about Fu Bao and the story of zookeeper Kang Cheol-won, please refer to the links below. 

https://youtu.be/8RUrjZoxiW8?si=nE7DAtD-bOFerSyS

#Fubao

#Fubao_korean_babypanda

#Babypanda_Fubao

#Korea_panda_Fubao

#panda

#babypanda

#panda_baofamily

#pandafamily_Aibao_lebao_Fubao_kangbao

#kangbao

#giantpanda_korea

#giantpanda_fubao_aibao_lebao_kangbao

Hangul, the language of Koreans

The word 'Hangul' has several meanings. Hangul is the writing system of Korean, the official language of Korea, and is also a part of Hancom Office, Korea's representative word processing software.

Hangul is also a cultural symbol of Korea, representing Korean identity and pride.

한국인들은 한글을 많이 사랑해요.

한국인들은 한글을 많이 사랑해요

한국인들은 한글을 많이 사랑해요

- Hangul first appeared in the world under the name Hunminjeongeum, created by King Sejong the Great in 1443¹. Hangul is a way of expressing sounds, with consonants following the shapes of the tongue and lips, and vowels following the shapes of heaven, earth, and people². Hangul is considered the most scientific and logical writing system in the world³.

- Hangul is Hancom Office’s word processing software that allows you to create and edit Hangul documents. Hangul also provides an integrated viewer that can load not only Hangul, Hancell, and Hanshow documents, but also MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents⁴. Hangul can also be used in a web browser, and real-time simultaneous editing is also supported.

- Hangul is a cultural symbol of Korea and contains the life and history of Koreans. Hangul is also a medium that shows the creativity and artistry of Koreans. Hangul is used in various works of art, and events honoring Hangul are held on Hangul Day. Hangul is also recognized globally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hangul is an important element that connects Koreans' roots and culture. 

Feel Korean identity and pride through Hangul. 

#Korean_language

#Korean_language_Hangul

#Korean_language_trdaition

#Korean_language_wordprocessor

#Korean_language_UNESCO

#UNESCO

Source: Conversation with Bing, November 29, 2023.

(1) Global software leader, Hangul and Computer. https://www.hancom.com/cs_center/csDownload.do.

(2) Global software leader, Hangul and Computer. https://www.hancom.com/.

(3) Korean spelling/grammar checker. http://speller.cs.pusan.ac.kr/.

(4) Global software leader, Hangul and Computer. https://www.hancom.com/product/productOfficeMain.do.

KaKao talk : The most popular messenger service in Korea

 KakaoTalk is a messenger service app that allows you to send messages and voice/video calls for free anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. Most Koreans communicate through KakaoTalk. Although they communicate with individuals, Koreans mainly create group rooms and use them more for communication among group members. Koreans abbreviate this group chat room as ‘Dantalk’. Koreans enjoy using emoticons to express their feelings or simply say hello. Kakao provides emoticons with fun and diverse images for free, and people also enjoy expressing their emotions in a more personalized way by purchasing emoticons that suit their tastes through the emoticon shop provided by Kakao.

Do you have a favorite Korean artist?

He or she may also be chatting with his or her friends or family through KakaoTalk right now.

The main features of KakaoTalk are as follows:

- 1:1 chat and group chat

- Voice Talk, Face Talk, Live Talk: You can make voice or video calls with your friends. Live Talk is a feature that allows you to broadcast in real time in a chat room

- Profile: You can create a profile to express yourself. You can set your profile photo, wallpaper, status message, etc., and click Like to your friend’s profile. 

This profile editing feature is quite convenient and fun. You can also meet cute Kakao friends.

Do you have any Korean friends? you too Edit your profile to express yourself and chat with friends. Perhaps your Korean friends will be able to contact you more easily, quickly, and more conveniently. Of course, if you are in a network environment.

In addition, there are other functions such as shop (#) search, emoticons, Kakao Shopping, Kakao Channel, Kakao TV, and Kakao Bank etc.

Kakao Friends is a brand that collects KakaoTalk's representative characters, and includes characters such as Lion, a Peach, Muji, Neo, Frodo, Tube, Jay-Z, and Con.

#korean

#korean_culture

#korean_messengerserviceapp

#korean_culture_application

#korean_Kakaotalk

#kakaotalk

#kakaofriends

#Korean_voicetalk

#korean_facetalk

#korean_culture_kakaofriends

#korean_communication

#korean_culture_sns

#korean_culture_friendship

#korean_culture_chatting

#korean_chatting