Kimjang kimchi and factory-made kimchi

 Kimchi is a representative Korean food and also a representative fermented food.

It is said that there are about 300 types of kimchi being developed in Korea, including napa cabbage kimchi, water kimchi, cabbage kimchi, bachelor kimchi, and green onion kimchi.

Recently, China has been labeling other countries as the country of origin under the name of Paichai, but historically and traditionally, it is definitely a traditional Korean food.

It is said that there is a similar sauerkraut in Germany, but it is completely different from kimchi seasoned with red pepper powder and salted seafood like in Korea.

If you look at the manufacturing process, it is first softened by the osmotic action of salt, which is called suffocation, and when it softens, the prepared kimchi filling is mixed in and various fillings are added depending on the region. Hairtail, squid, etc...

In the case of water kimchi, various nutrients are dissolved in the savory kimchi broth, and the taste of dongchimi broth eaten after breaking the ice in winter is truly exquisite.

In the past, when people were poisoned by coal briquette gas coming through the cracks in the door in the winter, they ate this dongchimi broth to regain their senses, but there seems to be no scientific basis for this.

The lactic acid bacteria in kimchi come from the fermentation process, and although it varies from person to person, I think the slightly sour taste is the true taste of kimchi.

​Recently, factory-made kimchi is popular among housewives, and pickled cabbage is also popular as an intermediate step.

When looking at the manufacturing process of factory-made kimchi, it is harvested in the highlands of Gangwon-do such as Pyeongchang in midsummer and in Haenam and Jindo in Jeollanam-do in winter, and then waited in a low-temperature warehouse, and when it is brought into the workplace, most of the cabbage washing is done by machine equipment these days, and bubble generators using ultrasonic waves are sometimes used. Most of them are washed only with water without using chemicals such as detergents, and then the cabbage is mixed by hand in the subsequent process to complete the process.

This can be seen as the result of mechanical handwork and chemical reactions, so it is born as a new substance through heterogeneous combination.

Mainly sold in PET bottles

 Our representative soft drinks are not that old. In the past, cold water floating in a gourd with a weeping willow tree was popular, but recently, it has been manufactured and produced in large-scale manufacturing facilities, leading to the emergence of health drinks, functional drinks, and even recently, bottled water.

The story of Kim Seon-dal, who sold the water of the Daedong River, has become a reality.

Bottled water is mostly underground bedrock, but in some cases, deep water from the sea is extracted, purified with RO, sterilized with ultraviolet rays, and filled into PET containers, and is managed by the Drinking Spring Water Act.

Our country has relatively deep bedrock aquifers and abundant groundwater, so this type of bottled water has developed a lot. Compared to Europe, where limestone is abundant and people cannot drink it as is, we can say that we are blessed.

However, we can no longer say that we are a country with abundant water resources because we are excessively extracting groundwater. As water resources are gradually depleting, it is time to prepare for the climate crisis.

However, although our country is said to be a country lacking water, this can be said to be the result of exaggerated propaganda.

The first beverage was cider, but its meaning is slightly different from that of the United States. In our country, cider means carbonated gas with sugar.

When it comes to health drinks, Bacchus is a must. When we were young and not well off, we always had a boiled egg and a bottle of cider when we went on a picnic. This is carbonated water in a bottle, unlike today's canned type.

In recent years, the shape of containers has become very diverse. Even for beverages, there were bottles, PP, PET, pouches, and aluminum cans, so each had a different purpose and use, but among them, PET (Poly Etylene Telethalef) is by far the most unique development. There have been concerns about the release of hazardous substances (PCBs), but PET, a material used for food packaging, is not considered to be a cause for concern since food companies receive and keep test results from manufacturers every six months.

Seongyojang House, in Gangneung

 1 Introduction to Seongyojang House, Gangneung.

Seongyojang House, Gangneung

Summary: An old house in Unjeong-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do.

Designated as a national folk cultural heritage on April 20, 1967.

This is the house where Lee Nae-ban, known as a local noble family, first lived and where his descendants have lived for generations. 

There are four buildings in total: Yeolhwadang, Anchae, Dongbyeoldang, and Hwalraejeong. It is said that the oldest Anchae Juok is the building where the residence was originally located, but this is not certain.

The Sarangchae, Yeolhwadang, was built in 1815 (the 15th year of King Sunjo’s reign) by Lee Hu, the great-grandson Lee Geun-woo who built Hwalraejeong the following year rebuilt it into the current building, and Dongbyeoldang was newly built about 50 years ago. 

The main building is on the east side, and the main building has an L-shaped floor plan, with the kitchen at the east end and the guest room on the west. 

A wall was built between the main building and the servants’ quarters, and the servants’ quarters are on the south side, and there is a tall gate to the Sarangchae to the west.

The Sarangchae stands on a high stone wall, and Dongbyeoldang is on the east front of the main building, and it stands on a high two-story stone wall. 

There used to be Seobyeoldang on the opposite side, but now only the site remains. Hwalraejeong is a pavilion built next to a large pond at the entrance to Seonkyojang outside the main gate. 

It has stone pillars erected in the pond and a railing surrounding it, and it is a hip roofed house with double eaves. It is located at 63 Unjeong-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do.

2 How to get to Seongyojang House, Gangneung.

- Address: 63 Unjeong-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

- Business hours: Operating Closes at 18:00

- Phone number: 033-648-5303

- Price list: Adults 5,000 won, Youths 3,000 won, Children 2,000 won

- Guide: Hanok Stay Hong Ye-heon Building 1/2

- Guide to viewing the annex Thatched House Building 1/2 Experience

- Instagram: knsgj.net

- Designated Item: National Folk Cultural Heritage

- Designation Date: April 20, 1967

- Period: Joseon

- Type/Classification: Historic Building / Residential Life / Residential Architecture / House

3 The scenery of Seongyojang House, Gangneung.

4 Map

Haksaru (pavilion) in Hamyang, Gyeongnam

 1 Introduction to Sungnimsa Temple.

Hamyang Haksa-ru is a pavilion located in Unrim-ri, Hamyang-eup, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. It was designated as Tangible Cultural Property No. 90 of Gyeongsangnam-do on February 16, 1974.

It is believed to have been built during the Silla period, and it is said that it originally had a guest house as an annex to the government office, with Jeun-ru to the east, Cheongsang-ru to the west, and Mang-ak-ru to the south.

It was rebuilt in the 18th year of King Sukjong’s reign in Joseon, and moved to its current location in 1979.

Haksa-ru was mainly used by local government officials, and there is a story about when Choi Chi-won of Silla was the governor of Hamyang and when Kim Jong-jik of Joseon was the governor of Hamyang.

The zelkova tree of Hamyang Haksa-ru is designated as a natural monument and is protected.

2 How to get to Sungnimsa Temple.

- Cultural property classification number: Gyeongnam Tangible Cultural Property No. 90 (designated on February 16, 1974)

- Category: City Tangible Cultural Property No. 90 (Hamyang-gun)

- Name: Hamyang Haksaru

- Category: Haksaru Historic building / Residential / Landscape architecture / Pavilion

- Quantity/Area: 1 building

- Designation date: 1974.02.16

- Location: 4 Haksaru-gil, Hamyang-eup, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam (31-15 Unrim-ri)

- Owner: National

- Manager: Hamyang-gun

- For more information: Gyeongsangnam-do Hamyang-gun Culture and Tourism Division 055-960-5510

3 The scenery of Sungnimsa Temple.

4 Map

Love Potion Sweet Chocolate

 Chocolate is a type of sweet food. Even if it is not a special day such as Valentine's Day or White Day, it is often used when you are feeling depressed or when you need calories such as when hiking in the winter.

The prices of these products increased in the first half of 2024, and it is said that this is because the price of cocoa, the main ingredient of chocolate, has skyrocketed. Dubai chocolate, which was a flashy product for a while, is not chocolate but a processed chocolate product with nuts such as pistachios added.

Many processes are required to commercialize chocolate.

In other words, roasting, grinding, refining, conching, and tempering are required.

Cacao and cocoa are different. Cacao refers to the fruit of the cacao tree (i.e. cacao beans) before processing. Cocoa is made from this through fermentation, drying, and roasting processes to create cacao butter, cacao mass, and cocoa powder. Chocolate is a product made by adding sugar, milk, and flavoring to this cacao mass.

Chocolatis also well known as a symbol of love, and it is said that in the West, people ate chocolate before going to bed.

Black chocolate itself produces a lot of calories, so it can be used as emergency food when climbing mountains, and its melting point is low, so it easily melts at room temperature and becomes liquid, and it can absorb moisture, so separate packaging materials are sometimes used.

Melt means that a solid changes into a liquid, and conversely, liquid changes into a solid, such as water turning into ice, melted candle wax solidifying, or metals such as aluminum or iron solidifying.

In other words, melting means that a solid melts into a liquid, and sublimation means that a solid flies away into a gas.

Most of the world's substances are difficult to reverse irreversibly, but if we substitute time, it is a little different.

After a billion eons, the universe may not contract back to a single point and then infinitely cycle back to the Big Bang.

Subukjeong(Pavillion) in Gyuam Village, Buyeo

 1 Introduction to Subukjeong Pavillion.

Subukjeong stands tall on the banks of the Baekma River, listening to the loud sounds of cars.

This is one of the eight scenic views of Buyeo and is a place with beautiful scenery. To the east are Mt. Busosan and Naseong, and the Baekma River flows clearly beneath the pavilion.

This pavilion is said to have been built by Kim Heung-guk (1557-1623), the governor of Yangju during the reign of King Gwanghaegun (1608-1623) of Joseon, and is called Subukjeong after his pen name.

Kim Heung-guk was very close to Kim Jang-saeng, Shin Heum, etc., and Shin Heum's Eight Views Poetry Board of Subukjeong still hangs.

The Jaon-dae located below Subukjeong is said to have been passed by the king of Baekje when he went to Wangheungsa, and the rock would warm up on its own every time the king arrived, so it was named Gudeuldol.

It is called Jaon-dae according to this legend, and the handwriting of Uam Song Si-yeol writing "Jaon-dae" is engraved on the rock face.

2 How to get to Subukjeong Pavillion.

- Inquiry and guidance 041-830-6866

- Address Gyuam-ri, Gyuam-myeon, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

- Hours of operation Open all year round

- Holidays Open year-round

- Parking available

- Free admission

3 The scenery of Subukjeong Pavillion.

4 Map

Makgeolli, a refreshing drink that is good for your health

 Makgeolli(Korea Traditional Wine) is a popular type of alcohol, along with soju and beer.

<Source: Pixabay>

According to the Liquor Tax Act, alcohol is largely divided into alcohol, fermented alcohol, distilled alcohol, and other alcohol, and when taxed, it is imposed under the volume-based system and the ad valorem system. Fermented alcohol is usually made by fermenting alcohol, such as makgeolli or beer, and distilled alcohol is made by distilling this fermented alcohol in a ring.

This makgeolli hs also changed in various ways according to the times, and even soju is gradually decreasing from the highest 29 degrees. Recently, a dispute over makgeolli named after a celebrity was reported in the media at a brewery in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk.

In rural areas, it was known that a person who owned a rice mill that polished rice after harvest and a brewery that brewed makgeolli was a wealthy person, and local governments are sparing no effort in promoting local makgeolli brands.

Gamju, commonly known as Dansul, is similar in that it is fermented, but its purpose and method are different, and the mother liquor of Jeonju is also different.

The method of making Makgeolli is to make rice cakes with grains, add clear water nearby, add yeast, and leave it in a warm room for about 2 weeks. Then, the clear part on the top becomes Cheongju, and the part that settles to the bottom is called Sool Jigemi, which was used to feed children when there was not enough food in the past. I can't forget the taste of when I brought a jug of Yang to the brewery on my father's errand and drank it little by little.

Gayngju is a type of distilled liquor made by hanging it on a hook, and the method of making it has been passed down to the eldest son of the clan for generations. Hansan Sogokju, Andong Soju, and Jindo Hongju are well-known.

Alcohol should be like alcohol, and in ancient times, it was used to communicate with ghosts, but it gradually evolved to create excitement or relationships among people, so the fundamental purpose of alcohol is the best way to build relationships with people.

You should not get so drunk that you lose your sense of reason, and a typical example of this would be drunk driving.

Sesame and sesame oil

 Sesame oil, along with perilla oil, is a type of vegetable oil that stimulates our appetite.

Sesame oil is extracted from sesame seeds, and perilla oil is extracted from perilla seeds. In addition, safflower oil, which is said to help bones heal well after fractures, is extracted from safflower, red camellia oil, which adds shine to hair, and castor oil, which is effective against toxicity and constipation, are each vegetable oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids, and it is said that if you consistently consume one finger a day, your health will improve.

There are two methods for manufacturing vegetable oils derived from various seeds: pressing and dissolving, but this sesame oil is usually manufactured by pressing in small quantities.

Sesame oil enhances the flavor of food, so it is not used alone, but rather added to bibimbap when mixing.

Sesame seeds are imported from China through peddlers, or are auctioned by the AT (Agricultural and Fisheries Trade Corporation) for quarterly price adjustments. They are said to come mainly from Pakistan, Ethiopia, and India, and if red sesame seeds are mixed in by local inspectors, they are considered defective.

In the first month of the year, white rice cakes are eaten with sesame oil, and in Andong, high-quality foods such as songpyeon are steamed and coated with sesame oil to prevent them from sticking together.

Sesame seeds are harvested in the fall around September and October, dried up with the seeds standing upright without touching the ground, and then pounded to remove the seeds, which is called sesame turning.

Oil shops can be found in most large traditional markets, and in the metropolitan area in particular, Moran Market in Seongnam is called Oil Alley, and a rich smell wafts from nearby.

Sesame oil bottles are usually made of small bottles, but in the past, capping with newspapers was considered unsanitary, so special containers were also distributed.

Sesame salt is sesame seeds with salt added, and it has a salty and savory taste that goes well with dishes such as stir-fried dishes. Just like a pepper grinder, sesame seeds can also be used every time to prevent rancidity.

Perilla seeds also have the function of reducing odor, so they are used with zephyr and cinnamon in hangover soups, naejangtang, and chueotang. Sesame leaves are edible, but they are not as popular as sesame leaves or soybean leaves.

Bak is the remaining material after oil is squeezed. Soybean meal is the remaining material after soybean oil is squeezed, perilla seeds are the remaining material, and sesame seeds are the remaining material after sesame seeds are squeezed. Homabak is the remaining material after sesame seeds are squeezed, and they are useful as livestock feed.

Sesame seeds are expressed in Chinese characters as homa, perilla seeds are called imja, and there are also cottonseed gourds and seed gourds.

Somaemuldo(Island) in Tongyeong-si, GyeongNam

1 Introduction to Somaemuldo(Island).

Somaemuldo is a small island located about 26km away from Tongyeong Port, with an area of ​​only 2.51㎢ and a coastline of only 5.5㎞. Administratively, it belongs to Maejuk-ri, Hansan-myeon, Tongyeong-si.

It is located about 1 hour and 10 minutes away by boat from Tongyeong, Gyeongnam, and is close enough to be reached by boat in only about 30 minutes from Jeogu Port, Geojedo. The northern part of the sea is part of Hallyeohaesang National Park.

The coast of Somaemuldo is home to a variety of spectacular rock formations along the vertical coastal cliffs. Among them, sea cliffs, sea caves, and seaside cliffs formed by the erosion of waves have developed here and there, creating a spectacular coastal landscape, and it is known as the third of the '8 Scenic Views of Tongyeong'.

The lighthouse island at the southern end of Somaemuldo was designated as a 'special island' by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on September 5, 2000, and was selected as an 'island to visit' by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2007. In addition, the Cultural Heritage Administration recently designated the lighthouse island as a natural scenic spot, recognizing the value of its topographical landscape, and interest in it is increasing. Therefore, Somaemuldo provides us with an important place for on-site education to understand natural scenic spots, and can also be considered another learning site for understanding the topography and geology of the islands on the southern coast.

2 How to get to Somaemuldo(Island).

- Address: Maejuk-ri, Hansan-myeon, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

- Composition: Somaemuldo and Deungdaeseom are combined to form Somaemuldo.

- Area: 0.51㎢

- Highest peak and height: Mangtaebong, 152m

- Coastline length: 3.8km

- Location: 26km southeast of Tongyeong Port

* Maemuldo is located in the northeast, and is connected to Deungdaeseom to the south by a 70m long gravel road, then split again.

3 The scenery of Somaemuldo(Island).

4 Map

Fish cake, tempura, oden. Whose words are correct?

  The sundae and fish cakes we know are different from each other, and they also have different characteristics from European sausages. Fish cakes are also similar to oden, which was passed down as a Japanese pronunciation called tempura in the 60s and 70s, but this word means fried food, and tempura oil refers to frying oil, so we can see that it is a food that was fried in oil in the past.

Fish cakes are usually made by grinding fish meat according to its original purpose, such as sashimi, and not discarding the remaining parts, and then going through a molding process to make a certain shape, mixing it with frying powder according to each purpose, putting it on a skewer, and frying it in frying oil, and using it as a snack or side dish.

Busan oden used to be famous, but compared to the past when there was nothing to eat, now there are various types of fish cakes, and you can even see them being made directly as street food and a visual treat.

Fish cakes themselves are not very nutritious or contain useful/necessary ingredients for the body, but there is no food better than fish cake soup to relieve temporary hunger or heartburn, and to eat on a cold winter day.

This frying (frying) is certainly terrible for the fish or pigs that are being eaten, but as the moisture evaporates, the water activity (aW) decreases, and the activity of microorganisms decreases, preventing spoilage, etc.

For people, it is similar to controlling others and achieving one's own goals by moving others.

Perhaps, looking at the management of a company from the perspective of the manager, it can be seen as hiring people and having the manager manage/guide/command/supervise from the top position, since the CEO cannot do everything from sales to manufacturing and sales collection.