Korea is a trendsetting nation in every sense of the phrase. For instance, Korea is known for its nearly unmatched food culture and it seems that a new food item is released or trending every other day.

Would you try mint-chocolate-flavored fried chicken? Are you curious about the endless varieties of croffle that seem to be available in Korea? These are some of the food trends that took precedent in Korea in recent years. As we've said, however, the food trends in Korea are always changing. As such, we've decided to look at some of the most recent ones.

In case you missed it, we've listed some of the foods that went viral in Korea in 2023 and were endorsed by some of your favorite celebrities.

 

1. Tanghuru

Tanghuru (탕후루 in Korean) is a Chinese traditional snack that has taken Korea by storm. The snack, which is made from fruits covered in a sugar coating, can be found at almost every corner of the city. Some of the fruits used to make tanghuru include grapes, cherry tomatoes, tangerines, strawberries, pineapples, kiwiㄴ, etc.

K-Celebs have been showing their love for this snack throughout the year as it has gained popularity. It has become trendy content to show yourself eating tanghuru for the first time, 새ㅐ.

For example, when Chuu tried tanghuru for the first time, she explained how she had never eaten it before because of how unhealthy it looked but ended up saying it was delicious.

Recently, model Han HyeJin also went viral for her reaction to the super sweet treat considering that she's a health fanatic. Despite not usually eating sweet things, even Han HyeJin was surprised at how much she enjoyed this treat.

Even BLACKPINK's JiSoo and Jennie are known for loving the snack and making it at home. In this video, the duo expertly speak about how important the sugar ratio of good tanghuru is. This video was taken 3 years ago, before tanghuru became extremely popular. Trust the trendsetting icons to be ahead of the trend!

 

2. Yakgwa

Yakgwa (약과 in Korean) is a Korean traditional dessert in the form of a honey cookie. It has a coated sweet exterior and a warm slightly gooey texture on the inside that tastes like honey delight.

2AM's Jo Kwon did a detailed review of the different kinds of yakgwa treats that are available at the moment. This includes the original yakgwa, financiers, cookies, pretzels, cake, and more. He truly showed how delectable the dessert is with some honest and entertaining commentary. Jo Kwon's video also highlighted how the yakgwa trend spread as the traditional dessert took on numerous modern adaptations. These days one can even find yakgwa ice cream at the convenience store!

 

3. Sogeum bbang

Sogeum bbang (소금빵 in Korean) is literally translated to 'salt bread' and is a combination of different bread styles to create a salted butter roll. It has been all the rage with different versions of the bread being sold all over Korea.

In an episode of "I Live Alone", famous golfer Park SeRi ventured to a popular bakery in the Seongsu neighborhood of Seoul in search of sogeum bbang. Unfortunately, the hot item was already sold out. This only shows how popular this pastry is.

Other K-Celebs have also shown their love for their bread, posting it on their social media feeds. For example, DAVICHI's Kang MinKyung has posted several times on her Instagram (both on her Instastories and her feed) about the bread. She even took to her Instastory, sharing a photo of sogeum bbang and asking why there are so many delicious things to eat in this world. Well, that's a question that we're all asking ourselves!

 

4. Mara tteokbokki

Last but not least, we have mara tteokbokki. If rosé tteokbokki and maratang were the food trends in Korea in 2022... 2023 is all about mara tteokbokki which combines the classic tteokbokki with mara sauce. Mara sauce gives off a spicy but slightly tangy and flavorsome taste. This tteokbokki combines the mara sauce with the usual offerings that go into a maratang such as meat, tofu ingredients like noodles, and more.

OH MY GIRL's Mimi ate mara tteokbokki on her famous mukbang channel quite recently. Despite the dish being super spicy, Mimi kept emphasizing how tasty the dish was. It's no wonder that it has become so popular, especially among fans of spicy foods.

Would you try any of the foods that we mentioned? Let us know which one you'd try out in the comments!

The upcoming "2023 MBC Gayo Daejejeon" ("MBC Music Festival") is happening later this month! This music festival promises a diverse lineup of artists from various genres, sure to bring joy to viewers as the year winds down and we welcome the new one. The theme for this year's Gayo Daejejeon is "Dream Record." This year's celebration will be hosted by YoonA from Girls' Generation, MinHo from SHINee, and Hwang MinHyun. You can catch all the excitement by streaming the festivities online. Find the performer lineup and streaming information below.

 

"2023 MBC Gayo Daejejeon" Artist Lineup

&TEAM

(G)I-DLE

2AM

aespa

ATBO

ATEEZ

BaekHo

BEBE

BOYNEXTDOOR

CRAVITY

DAY6

ENHYPEN

FANTASY BOYS

fromis_9

HyoYeon

ITZY

IVE

LUCY

NCT 127

NCT DREAM

NCT U

NiziU

NMIXX

RIIZE

SHINee

STAYC

Stray Kids

V1LLION by 1MILLION

ZEROBASEONE

Kwon EunBi

Dynamicduo

THE BOYZ

Young Tak

ONE TOP

Yoon Sang

Lee YoungJi

Lee Juck

Jang MinHo

JUJU SECRET

Kep1er

Paul Kim

 

[INFO]

Date: December 31, Saturday, 8:30PM KST

Live Stream: MBCKpop YouTube Channel

2023 is proving to be an amazing year for Korean entertainment, whether that be in terms of K-Pop, K-Dramas, or Korean films. The latter of the three is flourishing with constant box office hits, international success, and growing global popularity, thanks to platforms like Netflix. If you've been looking for a quick dose of solid entertainment but can't commit to a K-Drama, we've got you covered. Check out five memorable Korean films from 2023 that you absolutely need to add to your watchlist!

 

1. "Rebound"

Coming of age, sports, and the coolest underdog story based on real events, "Rebound" will have adrenaline pumping through your veins and possibly some tears running down your cheeks. Starring Ahn JaeHong in the leading role, alongside a whole host of rising stars like Jung GunJoo, Kim Taek, 2AM's Jeong JinWoon, and Lee SinYoung, "Rebound" tells the story of how Coach Kang YangHyun (played by Ahn JaeHong) leads the Busan JoongAng High School basketball team to the KBA National Tournament against all odds, proving the true meaning of the word "rebound". The team struggles with losing players due to injury, fouls, and more, but they march on in the direst of situations, never losing their spirit. You don't need to be a basketball fan to watch this movie, but we assure you that you will become one after this.

 

2. "Killing Romance"

Tired of boring old romance? Try "Killing Romance", an absurdly hilarious romantic comedy starring Lee HaNee, Lee SunKyun, and Gong Myoung, that combines the flair of musicals, the thrill of a chase, and the heart-fluttering loveliness of new love. The premise revolves around Hwang YeoRae (played by Lee HaNee), a young actress with explosive popularity but average skills who finds herself in an abusive relationship with the megalomaniac Johnathan Na (Lee SunKyun). However, when he secludes her from the world, holding her back from resuming her career, she forms an alliance with neighbor/long-time fan Kim BeomWoo (Gong Myoung) to escape. The only way she can do that successfully is by killing her husband. Chaos ensues as their efforts are thwarted every time, leading to the most ridiculous situations. If you need something to make you laugh your head off, "Killing Romance" will be just the right fit for you!

 

3. "The Point Men"

Chungmuro superstars Hwang JungMin and Hyun Bin star in this suspense thriller based on true events that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. "The Point Men", also known as "Bargaining", tells the story of how diplomat Jung JaeHo (Hwang JungMin) and NIS agent Park DaeSik (Hyun Bin) conduct a rescue mission to save a group of Koreans being held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan. After initially butting heads due to differences in approach, the two ultimately work together to strike the best deal that will save the hostages as well as their own lives. The film is rife with twists and turns, all of which are even more impactful when you consider that it is based on the real 2007 South Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan. Hwang JungMin and Hyun Bin deliver stellar performances, as always, effectively making "The Point Men" one of the best films to come out this year. Whether it is action you're seeking or a gripping storyline, "The Point Men" will be right up your alley.

 

4. "The Childe"

Marking Kim SeonHo's highly-awaited comeback to the entertainment industry as well as his silver screen debut, "The Childe" is one of those films that get better with every watch. Also starring Kang TaeJu, Go Ara, and Kim KangWoo, "The Childe" tells the story of Marco (played by Kang TaeJu), a half-Korean and half-Filipino young man living in the Philippines, who is urgently brought back to South Korea by his chaebol father. Unbeknownst to him, a sinister plan is afoot and his life is on the line. Also on Marco's trail is Nobleman (Kim SeonHo), a mysterious figure who is neither friend nor foe and only refers to Marco as his "Target". He is determined to get his hands on him at all costs, even if it means gunning down his opponents mercilessly. What follows is an intense hunt that could potentially bring down an evil empire and nail-biting tension that concludes in the most satisfying ending.

 

5. "The Moon"

This recently released science fiction film is already one of the highest-grossing movies released in South Korea in 2023. Starring Sol KyungGu, Kim HeeAe, EXO's D.O., and more, "The Moon" is an incredibly well-made survival film revolving around Hwang SunWoo (D.O.), who is left stranded in space after his spaceship malfunctions. Back on Earth, Kim JaeGuk (Sol KyungGu), the former head of the Naro Space Center, gives it his all to bring him home. In addition to veteran actors Sol KyungGu and Kim HeeAe, who are a delight to watch on screen, D.O. also delivers one of the finest performances of his career with this film, putting his extraordinary talent on full display. Moreover, the cinematography is top-notch, drawing us into the world of "The Moon" with flawless immersion. This is most definitely going to be one for the history books of Korean cinema.

Which other Korean films would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments section down below!