SDLC111 - Cultural Post #3
For my third cultural post, I will be discussing seafood markets also known as 수산시장 or “susan shijang” in Korea. I think that these are a truly unique experience that is a must-try if ever in Korea. I’ve personally had the privilege to go to one and try it out.
These seafood markets can be found in many areas of Korea but are more widely known and prevalent in coastal areas of the country such as Busan. The main area of the seafood market is where the seafood are sold. There is a wide variety of seafood ranging anywhere from live fish to shellfish and more. Each stand or concession will offer different prices and sometimes people will haggle to get better bundled deals. Once you have chosen the bundle of seafood you would like, you are able to take it upstairs and have restaurants prepare them for you however you would like. The most popular way to have your live seafood prepared is raw or sashimi style otherwise known as 회 (“hwe”). Hwe is often known for its chewy and almost crunchy texture. Rather than prioritizing a rich umami or soft/buttery texture, hwe prioritizes the fresh and firm texture of the fish. This can be dipped into a hot sauce known as 초고추장, (“cho gochujang”) which is a sweet and slightly tangier version of regular gochujang.
Once you have consumed the hwe, the restaurant than uses the remaining scraps of the fish including bones and head as stock to create a stew known as 매운탕 (“mae-un tang”). This is a spicy fish stew that includes vegetables and leftover meat. Ramen stock can also be added into this stew.
Overall, susan shijangs in Korea are not only a great place to purchase seafood but also a place to commune or gather with larger groups of people and eat. It is common for companies to have company dinners and share a large spread of seafood together. The modern adaptation of a more traditional outlook on the process of choosing your own fish and having it prepared from a display of many stands to having a restaurant prepare the seafood for you is often seen as an authentic experience to many tourists.
For my third cultural post, I will be discussing seafood markets also known as 수산시장 or “susan shijang” in Korea. I think that these are a truly unique experience that is a must-try if ever in Korea. I’ve personally had the privilege to go to one and try it out.
These seafood markets can be found in many areas of Korea but are more widely known and prevalent in coastal areas of the country such as Busan. The main area of the seafood market is where the seafood are sold. There is a wide variety of seafood ranging anywhere from live fish to shellfish and more. Each stand or concession will offer different prices and sometimes people will haggle to get better bundled deals. Once you have chosen the bundle of seafood you would like, you are able to take it upstairs and have restaurants prepare them for you however you would like. The most popular way to have your live seafood prepared is raw or sashimi style otherwise known as 회 (“hwe”). Hwe is often known for its chewy and almost crunchy texture. Rather than prioritizing a rich umami or soft/buttery texture, hwe prioritizes the fresh and firm texture of the fish. This can be dipped into a hot sauce known as 초고추장, (“cho gochujang”) which is a sweet and slightly tangier version of regular gochujang.
Once you have consumed the hwe, the restaurant than uses the remaining scraps of the fish including bones and head as stock to create a stew known as 매운탕 (“mae-un tang”). This is a spicy fish stew that includes vegetables and leftover meat. Ramen stock can also be added into this stew.
Overall, susan shijangs in Korea are not only a great place to purchase seafood but also a place to commune or gather with larger groups of people and eat. It is common for companies to have company dinners and share a large spread of seafood together. The modern adaptation of a more traditional outlook on the process of choosing your own fish and having it prepared from a display of many stands to having a restaurant prepare the seafood for you is often seen as an authentic experience to many tourists.
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