What Korean food does BTS Jimin love?
One answer has appeared more than once over the years:
Samgyeopsal (삼겹살), Korean grilled pork belly.
In an earlier interview, Jimin listed samgyeopsal among his favorite Korean dishes and explained that he loves meat in general. Years later, when asked about foods he enjoys with soju, he again mentioned samgyeopsal.
So what exactly is samgyeopsal—and why is it one of Korea’s most popular meals?
What Is Samgyeopsal?
Samgyeopsal literally refers to pork belly, usually cut into thick slices and grilled at the table.
Unlike heavily marinated Korean barbecue dishes, samgyeopsal is often cooked without a complicated marinade.
That sounds simple.
But the fun begins after it hits the grill.
The pork becomes crispy and browned on the outside while staying juicy inside.
Then you build your own perfect bite.
How Do Koreans Eat Samgyeopsal?
A typical bite might include grilled pork belly, lettuce, garlic, ssamjang and perhaps kimchi.
Wrap everything together and eat it in one bite.
That combination is called a ssam (쌈).
But there isn’t just one correct way to eat samgyeopsal.
Some people dip the meat in sesame oil and salt. Others prefer ssamjang. Some grill kimchi alongside the pork so it absorbs a little of the rendered pork fat.
And, of course, many adults pair it with soju.
Jimin himself mentioned samgyeopsal when discussing foods he enjoys as anju—food eaten while drinking alcohol.
Jimin Has Loved Meat for Years
This isn’t based on a single recent comment.
In a 2014 interview, Jimin was asked about his favorite Korean dishes.
His list included samgyeopsal, pork-and-rice soup, fried rice, kimchi stew, jokbal and sundae.
He explained that he simply really likes meat and enjoys many foods containing it.
Another Japanese magazine interview from the following period listed pork belly, kimchi fried rice and gimbap among his favorite foods.
That makes samgyeopsal a particularly good dish to associate with Jimin: it keeps appearing in his food preferences across different interviews.
Why Should First-Time Visitors Try It?
Samgyeopsal isn’t only about the pork.
It’s about the experience.
The grill sits in the middle of the table. Everyone cooks together, shares side dishes and makes their own wraps.
That makes Korean barbecue very different from simply ordering a cooked steak and waiting for it to arrive.
And you don’t need to be a K-pop fan to understand why Jimin likes it.
Once that first piece of pork belly comes sizzling off the grill, the appeal is pretty easy to understand.
If you’re visiting Korea and want to try one of the foods BTS Jimin has repeatedly mentioned over the years, samgyeopsal is an easy place to start.