Cultural Post #4: Budae Jjigae and Korea’s Military History
For my final cultural post, I chose to explore budae jjigae (부대찌개), also known as “army stew.” This dish might seem like just another spicy Korean soup at first, but it actually has a deep connection to Korean history especially the Korean War and the time after it. Learning about this dish helped me see how food can tell a powerful story about survival, creativity, and change.
Budae jjigae was first made after the Korean War, during a time when food was very limited. People near U.S. army bases would take leftover food from the soldiers like Spam, hot dogs, and canned beans and mix them with Korean ingredients like kimchi, gochujang (red pepper paste), and ramen noodles. The word “budae” means “military base,” so the name literally means “military base stew.”
What’s interesting is that this dish, which started from poverty and struggle, is now a popular comfort food in Korea. Many restaurants serve it, and people even make it at home with their own twist. It’s spicy, filling, and has a unique mix of Korean and American flavors. I tried making it myself while following a Korean recipe video, and I was surprised by how many processed foods were included, but in the end, it tasted really good.
Culturally, budae jjigae shows how Korea has changed over time. It reminds people of the hard times after the war, but also shows how Koreans used creativity to survive. It also reflects Korea’s complicated relationship with the U.S.—how American products became part of everyday life, for better or worse. Some older Koreans have mixed feelings about this dish because it brings back memories of poverty. But for younger generations, it’s often seen as nostalgic or fun.
Learning about budae jjigae also helped me understand the connection between food and history in Korean culture. Just like how kimchi is more than just a side dish, budae jjigae is more than just a stew. It holds memories, emotions, and stories. This helped me appreciate how Korean people often express their history through food.
From a language learning perspective, I used a Korean cooking video and blog to study the recipe. I learned food-related words like 소시지 (sausage), 통조림 (canned food), and 끓이다 (to boil). The grammar used in recipes also helped me practice imperative forms and sequencing expressions.
In the end, exploring budae jjigae taught me that even simple meals can carry deep cultural meaning. This dish helped me connect history, food, and language and reminded me how much culture you can learn from what people eat
For my final cultural post, I chose to explore budae jjigae (부대찌개), also known as “army stew.” This dish might seem like just another spicy Korean soup at first, but it actually has a deep connection to Korean history especially the Korean War and the time after it. Learning about this dish helped me see how food can tell a powerful story about survival, creativity, and change.
Budae jjigae was first made after the Korean War, during a time when food was very limited. People near U.S. army bases would take leftover food from the soldiers like Spam, hot dogs, and canned beans and mix them with Korean ingredients like kimchi, gochujang (red pepper paste), and ramen noodles. The word “budae” means “military base,” so the name literally means “military base stew.”
What’s interesting is that this dish, which started from poverty and struggle, is now a popular comfort food in Korea. Many restaurants serve it, and people even make it at home with their own twist. It’s spicy, filling, and has a unique mix of Korean and American flavors. I tried making it myself while following a Korean recipe video, and I was surprised by how many processed foods were included, but in the end, it tasted really good.
Culturally, budae jjigae shows how Korea has changed over time. It reminds people of the hard times after the war, but also shows how Koreans used creativity to survive. It also reflects Korea’s complicated relationship with the U.S.—how American products became part of everyday life, for better or worse. Some older Koreans have mixed feelings about this dish because it brings back memories of poverty. But for younger generations, it’s often seen as nostalgic or fun.
Learning about budae jjigae also helped me understand the connection between food and history in Korean culture. Just like how kimchi is more than just a side dish, budae jjigae is more than just a stew. It holds memories, emotions, and stories. This helped me appreciate how Korean people often express their history through food.
From a language learning perspective, I used a Korean cooking video and blog to study the recipe. I learned food-related words like 소시지 (sausage), 통조림 (canned food), and 끓이다 (to boil). The grammar used in recipes also helped me practice imperative forms and sequencing expressions.
In the end, exploring budae jjigae taught me that even simple meals can carry deep cultural meaning. This dish helped me connect history, food, and language and reminded me how much culture you can learn from what people eat
Comments
Budae jjigae sounds delicious! I think it's really cool how much cultural and historical significance a bowl of soup can have, and I think you explained it beautifully. I especially like how you connected food to memory and emotion, and your use of language learning through recipe study added a nice personal touch. I'm a big proponent of using cooking and food to learn language, given the level of intimacy it has that cannot be conveyed through a classroom setting. It sounds like you've had a vigorous learning journey, all the best!
I really enjoyed reading your post about budae jjigae as it is one of my favorite foods! You did a great job showing how this dish carries both historical weight and modern cultural meaning. I especially liked how you connected the food’s origins to Korea’s postwar struggles and how it now reflects creativity and resilience.