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KOREA
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I Thought BTS Was Just Another Idol Group — Then I Saw What Made Them Different
I didn’t expect much from BTS at first. Maybe that sounds strange now. Today, BTS is one of the most recognizable music groups in the world. But when I first encountered them, I saw them…
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CRAVITY Minhee Recommends Dakbokkeumtang — Is It a Stew or Braised Chicken?
Korean fried chicken is famous around the world. But CRAVITY’s Minhee recommends a completely different way to eat chicken in Korea. Dakbokkeumtang (닭볶음탕). When CRAVITY members were asked which Korean food they would recommend to…
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CRAVITY Jungmo Recommends Yukhoe Bibimbap — Would You Eat Raw Beef With Rice?
When international visitors think of Korean beef, they usually imagine one thing: Korean barbecue. Meat sizzling over a hot grill. But CRAVITY’s Jungmo recommends something completely different. Yukhoe bibimbap (육회비빔밥). And yes—the beef is served…
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CRAVITY Allen Recommends Samgyetang — Why Do Koreans Eat Hot Chicken Soup in Summer?
Imagine a brutally hot summer day. The temperature is climbing, you’re already sweating—and someone puts a bowl of boiling-hot chicken soup in front of you. In Korea, that’s not unusual. It’s called samgyetang (삼계탕), and…
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BTS Jin Loves Naengmyeon — Why Are Korean Noodles Served Ice-Cold?
Most people expect noodles to be hot. BTS Jin has long been associated with a Korean noodle dish that does the exact opposite. Naengmyeon (냉면). These thin, chewy noodles are served in an icy-cold broth—sometimes…
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Jay Park Misses Tteokbokki in America — What Makes It So Addictive?
Jay Park has lived between two food cultures. When he’s in Korea, there are American and Mexican-style foods he misses. But what about when he’s in the United States? One Korean food comes to mind:…
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SHINee Onew Loves Nakji-bokkeum — How Spicy Is Korean Stir-Fried Octopus?
SHINee’s Onew has a surprisingly fiery taste in Korean food. When asked about his favorite Korean side dish in a Soompi interview, Onew said he was obsessed with nakji-bokkeum (낙지볶음). And he added one important…
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EXO D.O. Can Really Cook — What Is His Famous “D.O. Rice Soup”?
Many K-pop stars talk about their favorite Korean foods. EXO’s D.O. goes one step further. He actually cooks them. D.O., also known as Doh Kyung-soo, holds a Korean cooking certification, and on an EXO reality…
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MAMAMOO Hwasa Ate Gopchang on TV — Then Korea Started Selling Out
Can a K-pop idol change what an entire country wants for dinner? MAMAMOO’s Hwasa practically did. In June 2018, Hwasa appeared on the Korean reality show I Live Alone and went to a restaurant by…
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SHINee Key and Minho Love “Sundae” — But It’s Not Ice Cream
If someone in America says “sundae,” you probably imagine ice cream covered with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. But when SHINee’s Key and Minho talk about Korean sundae (순대), they mean something completely different. Think…