South Korea's national dish is widely considered to be Kimchi, a staple of spicy fermented vegetables (usually napa cabbage or radish) that accompanies almost every meal, but Bibimbap, a vibrant mixed rice bowl with vegetables and meat, is also recognized as a key national dish, often symbolizing Korean culinary balance. Both are central to Korean food culture, with kimchi served as a ubiquitous side (banchan) and bibimbap as a hearty, colorful meal in itself.
Bibimbap
Probably the best-known Korean dish, bibimbap originated on the eve of Lunar New Year when it was traditional to use up all the vegetables and side-dishes in the house. A hot stone bowl is filled with cooked rice and topped with vegetables, pickled Chinese radish, carrot and mushrooms.
Kimchi is a traditional Korean fermented dish, typically made from salted and seasoned vegetables, most commonly napa cabbage and Korean radish, with a spicy, pungent paste of garlic, ginger, scallions, and gochugaru (Korean chili powder). Other ingredients like fish sauce or salted shrimp add umami, and a sweet rice flour porridge can be used to bind the paste, creating its signature spicy, sour, and savory flavor profile.
South Korea's 52-hour work rule caps most employees' weekly working hours at 52, consisting of 40 standard hours plus 12 allowed overtime hours, aiming to reduce overwork, improve work-life balance, and boost productivity by ending excessively long workweeks previously common in the country. Implemented in phases for different company sizes, this law applies to a seven-day week, including weekends, and was a major revision to the Labor Standards Act, phasing in from 2018 to 2021 for most businesses.
Kimchi, the traditional fermented vegetable dish from Korea, has been an integral part of the Korean food culture for thousands of years. Today, it is considered as a symbol of identity for Korean people and is globally appraised as a healthy food.
Kimchi has several potential health benefits, including boosting your gut health, improving digestion, preventing (or remedying) constipation and maybe even protecting you from chronic diseases like colon cancer and heart disease.
The classical identification of bacterial isolates from kimchi revealed that Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus plantarum were the predominant species in kimchi (Lim et al., 1989; Lee et al., 1992).
4B movement, South Korean feminist activist movement and political stance defined by four deliberate refusals: bihon (“no marriage”), bichulsan (“no childbirth”), biyonae (“no dating”), bisekseu (“no sex [with men]”).
South Korean law prohibits political activities by foreigners. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can lead to significant disruptions to traffic and public transportation.
The "3 date rule" in Korean dating refers to the common practice of establishing an official couple status (boyfriend/girlfriend) by the third date, moving from casual "talking" (sseom) to a defined relationship quickly, a faster pace than typical Western dating, allowing for deeper getting-to-know-you stages after becoming official, though it's becoming less strict with younger generations. It's about rapid commitment assessment, with the first few dates gauging chemistry before locking things down.
The Korean term "Kimchi" refers to fermented vegetables, and encompasses salt and seasoned vegetables. It is mainly served as a side dish with every meal, but also can be served as a main dish. Kimchi is mainly recognized as a spicy fermented cabbage dish globally.
Kimchi can cause stomach pain due to its fiber, probiotics, histamine content, and high sodium, leading to gas, bloating, cramps, or digestive upset, especially if you're not used to fermented foods; starting with small amounts helps your gut adjust, but persistent issues could signal histamine intolerance or improper fermentation.
Sauerkraut is made of a combination of cabbage and salt, while kimchi ferments vegetables such as cabbage and radishes with a mix of seasonings. Both options are packed with good-for-you probiotics that can support a healthy digestive system, along with other nutrients. Here's how they compare.
Mandu (Korean: 만두), or mandoo, are dumplings in Korean cuisine. Mandu can be steamed, boiled, pan-fried, or deep-fried.
Kimchi. No Korean meal is complete without kimchi. This is a fermented vegetable dish flavored with chili pepper, garlic, and ginger. High in probiotics, kimchi not only tickles the taste buds but is also great for good gut health.
A Korean meal typically has an array of shared dishes, so don't poke or dig around them with your chopsticks, pick what you want, and enjoy it from your personal dish plate. Keep your rice bowl on the table at all times while eating.
The Youth Protection Revision Act, commonly known as the Shutdown Law or Cinderella Law, was an act of the South Korean National Assembly which forbade children under the age of sixteen to play video games between the hours of 00:00 and 06:00.
Room 39 (officially Central Committee Bureau 39 of the Workers' Party of Korea, also referred to as Bureau 39, Division 39, or Office 39) is a secretive North Korean party organization that seeks ways to maintain the foreign currency slush fund for the country's leaders.
It's considered rude to drink facing your elders, as a younger person, you're expected to turn your head to the other side while drinking so that the elder won't see you drink. For elders, it is actually very impolite to drink in front of your face.
However, from the 15th century, Korean law clearly stipulated that every man was allowed only one wife (remarrying after a spouse's death was nearly obligatory for men and nearly prohibited for women). The strict line between the wife and concubines was maintained thoroughly.
In Korea, on the day of your birth, you are considered one year old; the time you spent in the womb counts as the first year of your life (despite it only being nine months). Because of this, your Korean age is always at least one year higher than your international age or Western age.
Advocacy groups across the country are celebrating the move as a “historic decision.” South Korea still doesn't legally recognize same-sex marriage or offer full anti-discrimination protections, but this is a step toward a future where every kind of love counts.
Kimchi / Kimchee (김치) is a traditional Korean side dish made from fermented cabbage, radish, or cucumber. It is often categorized by the main vegetable ingredient used to make it. Kimchi is a staple food in Korean cuisine. Most Koreans have it with almost every Korean meal at least once a day.
The cause of black dots, known as “pepper spot” or “black spec”, is likely to be low light levels, high soil pH, fertilizers high in nitrogen and phosphorus, and harvesting & storage conditions. Regardless of the cause, our scientists confirmed that the cabbage leaves with “Black Specs” are perfectly safe to eat.