Exhibition reveals tastes of Korea

Pimatgol used to be a popular restaurant street in Seoul’s Jongno which was demolished in the early 2000s. / Courtesy of Korea Foundation

• Published Aug 2, 2015 7:05 PM KST
• Updated Aug 2, 2015 7:05 PM KST

By Yun Suh-young

What would be the most representative of Korean food or dining culture?

Many answers come to mind, but no one would disagree with having bap (rice), sool (alcohol), kimchi, and baedal (delivery service) to represent the everyday lives of Korean people.

Although these four words don't represent the entirety of Korean culture, they "help reveal the tastes of Koreans and everyday life in modern Korea," according to the Korea Foundation which organized an exhibition called "MA:T - Korean Culture Beyond the Recipe," which will run until Oct. 3 at the Mirae Asset building in Jung-gu, central Seoul.

"MA:T" which opened on Aug.1, is a special exhibition planned by the Korea Foundation Global Center to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the organization's establishment, whose role is to nurture cultural exchange between Korea and the international community. Through "MA:T," the foundation aims to reflect on its role and foster global cultural exchange.

"MA:T" re-examines Korean culture through food and Korea's dining culture and delves into how Koreans approach nature and objects.

Displayed in the exhibition are utensils, models of food, and items that reflect habits familiar to any Korean.

For instance, the aluminum trays called "obong," often clad with flower designs, are what are commonly found in the traditional markets and backstreets of restaurants where busy merchants get their food delivered, carefully covered with a newspaper. These portable trays function as a dining table whenever necessary and is an evolved version of the "soban" or "gyojasang" which are small dining tables with legs.

Koreans are known to be famous for delivering food for their convenience, consuming nearly 10 percent of the global delivery service market.

The development of technology has revolutionized the delivery service industry, making it possible to order with just the tap of a button on a smart phone application. A leading local company in the field is Woowa Brothers which hit a jackpot with its application delivery service "Baedal Minjok." Its success boils down to its accurate understanding of the needs of the Korean people.

The exhibition features photos and items that help explain the culture.

Various utensils such as stainless rice bowls used for dining are displayed in the center of the exhibition hall. Traditionally rice came in a large brass bowl, as Koreans like to be generous, but since the 1960s when rice production suffered a shortage, smaller stainless bowls appeared to reduce consumption. Now this bowl has become the standard size that ordinary Koreans encounter at restaurants.

At a corner of the hall, the Pimatgol Project retraces the memories of Pimatgol, a popular restaurant street, which was demolished in the early 2000s. The street which was located in Jongno, central Seoul, had existed since the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). The name of the street meant "a place to avoid horses" as people moved around the backstreet when officials marched along the main street.

Other Korean items representing Korean culture are "somaek" which is a mixture of soju and beer and often enjoyed with "anju," side snacks which usually consist of dried squid and peanuts.

For foreigners, the exhibition may be an interesting overview of Korean culture seen through its food and dining culture.

For more information, visit www.kf.or.kr or call 02-2151-6520.