When you think of birthdays, you probably conjure up the typical cake with candles blazing on top. For many Koreans, seaweed soup or myieokguk is the iconic food that symbolizes a birthday.
Every spring, millions of people across South Korea gather to celebrate “The Day of Buddha’s Coming,” illuminating the streets with colorful lotus lanterns that symbolically convey the wisdom and compassion of the sage, while temples hold cultural performances and spectacular parades.
By early 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt foresaw the strong likelihood that American military forces would soon become actively engaged in the raging world war that had been going on for two and a half years.
South Koreans believe that a person is one year old at birth, since they spent almost one year in their mother’s womb, which can make birthdays a little confusing for foreigners.
Birthdays aren’t complete without a treat to share—and the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s bakery at Yokota Air Base recently came to the rescue to make an 8-year-old’s special day extra sweet.
Tteokguk, or rice cake soup, is a traditional New Year’s Day food thought to bring good luck (energy of yang) and longevity. The length and shape of the rectangular garaetteok rice cakes, which are the key ingredient of the recipe, reflect this fortune.
When you walk around Korea, you will quickly see the passion for food spilling over from stalls lining the street and small restaurants full of people noisily slurping noodles or preening away at a dish with chopsticks.
Located across from the Traffic Broadcasting Network Busan around Pukyong National University, The Mat has served various Korean-style hanu dishes for five years since its open.
