Getting started with Korean cooking Have you ever eaten at a restaurant here in Korea and wished you could find a recipe for the dish? Or realized you were leaving Korea and were going to miss your favorite dishes? Check out these online resources for learning to cook Korean food. My hubby and I know that one day we will leave Korea and will miss our favorite foods. I will never be quite on the level of the awesome chefs here that we have cooking for us. However, I also know that I won’t get to take my own Korean cook back to the states. So, we began researching to find recipes that we can recreate that are as close as possible to our favorites. So, we developed this list of online resources for learning to cook Korean food to share with others. Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food So, while we are living here, I have spent a great deal of time researching and finding recipes for several of our favorites. There are five main chefs I go to when I am looking for a recipe for most Korean dishes. All of these chefs have websites and social media accounts to follow as well. The reasons we think these Korean cooks are the BEST! All of these chefs are down-to-earth and give easy-to-follow recipes. Once you start cooking Korean foods at home, you will learn to adjust recipes to your taste buds to make it more to your family’s liking or put your own take on a dish. I like that I can adjust some ingredients for my taste buds (like gochugaru and gochujang—usually have to reduce so it’s not too spicy for me! or switching to vegetable stock instead of anchovy stock since hubby is allergic to seafood). These websites have been fabulous at helping me to be more confident in my Korean cooking and when we go out to eat I know where to look for a tried and true recipe. The other great tip that most of these chefs provide is pictures and links to their favorite ingredients and where to find them. Many of these chefs are stateside which means that if you return to the states, you can find those ingredients from links on their websites. Check out what we learned how to cook! Here are some Kimchi Redneck videos! Check out what we have learned! How did we do compared to our Korean cooking idols? Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series Are you ready to start cooking your amazing Korean dishes at home? Then, you can also check out our series A Year to Learn Korean Cooking. You might also like these South of Seoul Blogs to help you in the kitchen KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

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About Kimchi Rednecks’ Kitchen Adventures Our disclaimer: We want you to know that we are simply two white Americans who love Korean food and Korean culture. We have lived in South Korea for a number of years and food has naturally become part of our lives. We are not experts on cooking Korean food, nor are we trying to appropriate the culture as our own. If you have someone in your life (a halmoni, ajumma, chingu…anyone with more Korean experience), then please refer to their expertise. They absolutely know best. We simply want to share how Korean food exists in our lives. We have researched and spent quite a bit of time learning from online sites, as well as some friends here in Korea, to better understand Korean cooking. We also occasionally add our own flair to a recipe as cooks tend to do, but we will let you know that this is something we are changing or adding. Our blogs document that journey of learning from others. For more posts about Korean Cooking, check out Kimchi Rednecks’ A Year to Learn Korean Cooking series. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea. Getting Started with Korean Cooking So you want to learn to cook Korean food at home, but don’t know where to start? The key to good recipes is having quality ingredients. From our research and some trial and error, we have developed what we consider to be a list of pantry staples that you should have on hand if you are embarking on this adventure. Access to the following ingredients may change depending on where you are in the world. Since we live in South Korea we have access to quality ingredients for our Korean food pantry. Here is what it looks like. Our Korean Pantry Choices In our list, we are not including what we consider to be normal pantry staples: salt, black pepper, sugar, honey, vegetable or canola oil, garlic, and ginger. Most Korean recipes will either include rice or noodles (which vary by recipe), so we are not addressing those either. Finally, we are not including perishable items such as onions, green onions, radishes, etc. Soy Sauce (간장 Ganjang) Since it is a well-known item, it is no surprise to find a bottle of soy sauce in many pantries. It is probably one of the most used ingredients in Korean cooking. However, there are different types of soy sauce. Yanjo-Ganjang (양조간장) is a naturally brewed soy sauce and is a higher grade soy sauce and often more expensive. Generally, Yajo-Ganjang ferments for about 6 months. Jin-Ganjang (진간장) is typically a mix of the yanjo-ganjang and an acid hydrolyzed soy sauce. This tends to be cheaper. Guk-Ganjang (국간장), a soy sauce used for soups and stews, is lighter in color, has a saltier taste and is more savory. You can make your own or buy it commercially. (Maangchi has a great recipe here if you choose to make your own: https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/guk-ganjang ) If you want more detail regarding soy sauces and how to choose them, we recommend checking out the following article:https://kimchimari.com/korean-soy-sauce-a-buying-guide/ Doenjang (된장) Doenjang is a fermented soy bean paste. Fermented from soy beans and salt. this has a unique, sometimes pungent smell. Most often used to make stews and soups, it has a rich earthy and savory flavor. Also, dipping sauces are created by mixing it with other ingredients. (Miso and Doenjang are not the same, more like cousins.) Gochujang (고추장) Gochujang is a red chili paste that is savory, sweet and spicy. This paste adds a wonderful spicy umami* to your foods. Meant to complement your dishes, gochujang will increase the heat in your dish. We recommend that you start out using smaller amounts so that you can learn what level of spicy works for you. Once you add the heat, there is no bringing that spice level back down. Gochugaru (고추가루) Gochugaru is the red chili pepper flakes (either coarse or finely ground). Korean chili peppers and western chili peppers are not equal. So, gochugaru is not your typical red chili pepper and should not be swapped with it’s western cousin. Many Koreans make their own by drying Korean chili peppers and removing the seeds (unless you want extra spicy, in which case you leave the seeds) and then grinding them. Also, gochujang and gochugaru are not really interchangeable as gochujang has other ingredients mixed in to it. The flavor profile of your dish will change by using this instead. We use the same rule with gochugaru as gochujang though and add the spice slowly to the dish to determine the level of heat desired. Sesame Oil (참기름 Chamgireum) Sesame oil is a light or dark-colored oil made from sesame seeds. Many Korean dishes utilize it either as a marinade, part of a sauce, a seasoning, or even to complete a dish. It adds a nice smoky, savory, nutty flavor to the dish. Since the smoke point for toasted sesame oil is high, we recommend not using it to deep fry. You can get a sesame oil that is not toasted and use it for frying. However, most Korean dishes use the toasted darker sesame oils. Rice Vinegar (쌀식초 Ssalsigcho) Rice vinegar, vinegar made from rice, has a sour, slightly sweet, acidic taste to it. Korean cooking often uses it in sauces, pickling, with side dishes, and in marinades. This helps to balance oil/greasy flavors. Also, it will add acidity to your dish and help cleanse your palate. Mirim/Mirin (미림 or Matsul 맛술) Mirim is a rice wine used in Asian cooking. Though it is similar to Sake and Soju, it has a lower alcohol content and more sugar. Mirim adds sweetness to your flavors and helps to remove gamey/fishy flavors from your proteins. Please note, rice vinegar and Mirim are not interchangeable at all. Plum Extract (매실청 Maesil-Cheong) Though not a traditional Korean ingredient, plum extract adds sweetness to Korean dishes. Maesil is made from Korean plums and offers a fragrant, fruity, and fresh flavor to your cooking. It also helps to tenderize meats. We crafted a blog detailing this fragrant extract here. This extract can be used in marinades, sauces, and dressings, but also can be diluted with water and made into tea. Want to know more about how to make your own maesil-cheong or more uses, check out this article from United on the Rok magazine. Toasted Sesame Seeds (볶음 참깨 Bokkeum Cham-kkae) Korean cooking uses toasted or roasted sesame seeds often as a finisher or to enhance flavors. In addition, they provide a nutty flavor and a crunchy texture to your dishes. Korean Fish Sauce (액젓 Aekjeot) Korean fish sauce is often used in making kimchi, soups, and stews. It has a strong, pungent aroma but it also adds umami* to your dishes. It is savory and salty and can be used to substitute soy sauce. When we use vegetable stock for our stews, we often add some fish sauce to boost the flavor. MSG MonoSodium Glutamate Over the years, MSG has gotten a bad reputation. Comedian, Nigel Ng, (aka Uncle Roger) has dubbed it as the “King of Flavor.” This is because MSG enhances the flavors in your dish. Since MSG has 1/3 less sodium than salt, some utilize it as a salt substitute. Often we add just a pinch to increase the umami* in our dishes. Ultimate Korean Soup Stock This soup stock is usually made from dried anchovies, Korean radishes, and kelp. You can make this at home or you can buy it in a teabag form where you simply add water and boil to make the stock. Since we have a seafood allergy in our house, we often substitute the Korean soup stock with another stock (vegetable, chicken or beef). We have found most often using vegetable stock and adding some Korean fish sauce gives us the same flavors without having to overwhelm our senses with the anchovy smell. Please note, though this smells very fragrant when you are cooking it at home, the taste and flavor is not nearly as pungent. Making Your Own Stock If you want to fix your own stock, we recommend the following recipes: https://seonkyounglongest.com/ultimate-korean-stock/https://www.koreanbapsang.com/how-to-make-anchovy-broth-for-korean/https://futuredish.com/korean-stock-soup/ Good Luck With Your Shopping With your basic kitchen pantry staples and these Korean ingredients, you will be ready to whip up fabulous Korean dishes at home. We look forward to sharing many dishes with you in the future and would love to see what you are cooking at home too! Link to our video: Other videos to check out on Korean pantry staples: Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series You have your ingredients now. Are you ready to start cooking your amazing Korean dishes at home? Then, check out our series A Year to Learn Korean Cooking. KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

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Wondering about grocery shopping in Korea? Let’s talk about the realities of moving to a new culture and the struggles in Korea. Grocery shopping in South Korea Moving to South Korea is a shock in the kitchen!! Grocery stores are organized differently, packaged differently, taste different, and so much more. It’s likely that you are going to notice a difference in how everything cooks and tastes. It’s going to take a while to get used to all the new vegetables, fruits, meat cuts, and more. When I first arrived I had a mental breakdown because nothing that I made tasted right. I learned that every fruit, vegetable, and other ingredient was just a little bit different. Adjusting for things like different sweetness levels, acidity, or bitterness nearly drove me to drink. Ok, it actually drove me to drink, but I just kept cooking until I found my groove again. For a year, I decided to only cook with ingredients produced in South Korea. It was a challenge that truly changed how I look at food. Don’t get discouraged! Dig into studying the new ingredients, ask questions, and try all the new things! Why do the foods taste different in South Korea? This is part of the uniqueness of culture. When you move around the world each location has a different view of how much salt, sweet, bitter, sour, or spicy is ok to eat. This change can impact you deeply and emotionally. Many, maybe even most, ex-pats get very angry about these changes. The new tastes may feel like an attack on all that is right and sacred during a very stressful life change. In Korea, salt is a big issue. In the western world, iodized salt is used more often than sea salt. In South Korea, sea salt is used more than iodized salt. These two salts impact the tastebuds very differently leaving both sides feeling like the other food is too salty. In Korea, things are sweet that you don’t expect, and things that “should” be sweet are not. This will be very hard to adjust to, and you are going to get mad about it for a while. Breathe deep, it will be ok. Fruits and veggies taste different because it’s grown in different soil from different types of seeds. Basically, this is biodiversity in action. Korea likes their corn less sweet than you like your corn, so they grow different corn. Carrots here are super sweet. Get prepared. The funny part is that when you go back home you will feel like food is weird there! Life is funny that way. We evolve without even knowing it. What surprises exist in the grocery store in South Korea Don’t be too scared, but be ready to be overwhelmed on your first trip to a Korean grocery store. It’s going to take you a lot more time to do your grocery shopping than you originally planned. Here are some of the culture shock points: You are going to pay for your grocery bags. Your grocery bags will double as your trash bags at home. You pay your trash fee when you buy groceries but you don’t pay a monthly trash fee at your house. This turns out to be a very affordable option for waste management. You will also need to buy your food waste bags at the grocery store. Here is a blog about waste disposal in Pyeongtaek. The International Section is going to include the western items. Your western foods usually are not integrated into the rest of the grocery store. Things like western mustard, olives, salsas, and western pasta sauces will be in a small section together. This section will also include ingredients for other Asian countries like Thai or Vietnamese foods. Not every grocery store has an international section.  Veggies and fruits are seasonal. Some newly arrived ex-pats might find this inconvenient. However, once they realize how much more delicious fresh, seasonal produce is they get over their sadness fast. The Korean strawberries and blueberries will blow your mind. Fruits may be crazy expensive! Especially in the fancy grocery stores where we have seen 125,000 won watermelon. You are better off getting fruit from street vendors. Frozen fruit tends to be more affordable but less intense in flavor. Imported goods are expensive. If you want to eat exactly like home, you are going to pay for that privilege. Korea is essentially an island nation and has only been heavily importing western foods for about 7 years. That means these items are quite pricy. If you adjust to a more local diet your grocery bill can drop fast. Meat cuts are nothing like you are used to from home. You will likely need to get used to cooking with meat in a new way. Or, you can go to a butcher and request your specific meat cuts. Koreans value meat cuts differently. You will find that bones and fatty meats are the most expensive. The roasts and lean meats are much more affordable. This is especially true at the butcher. Koreans have different convenience foods. That means you find more pre-made Korean soups, frozen mandu, and pre-marinated meats rather than lots of different types of pizza. However, more and more western convenience foods arrive all the time. Since all of this change is overwhelming, we recommend going to the grocery store before you need to buy anything and just walk around. Taking a few hours to get comfortable with the new setup can change everything. Here are some more blogs that are going to help you in the kitchen South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Welcome to your new life in Pyeongtaek. You have left your home culture and embarked on an exciting journey! The first step to success and self-care is learning how to meet your basic physiological needs, like how to buy groceries in your new environment! Food is a Foundation for Success Building a happy life in a new country requires us all to start at the bottom and build our way back toward self-actualization in a new cultural context. The foundation for this journey starts with learning how to efficiently meet our basic physiological needs. Of course, you already know all this, but i’ts easy to forget as you struggle to find balance in a new city, new country, and new job. We want to provide you with a solid foundation of information that will help make your nutritional journey easier to manage in South Korea. We have compiled a list of blogs that address both cultural complexities around grocery shopping in South Korea and where you can go to buy groceries in or near Pyeongtaek South Korea. Those living near Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Force Base may find these blogs especially helpful for navigating their new lives outside of the base walls. Culture Tip Blogs on Shopping for Groceries in South Korea When you first start grocery shopping in South Korea it’s likely you will feel some frustration. You may not be able to find every fruit and veg that you have in your country. Instead, the shelves will be filled with items used to cook Korean food with occasional nods to foreign nations. This is to be expected when moving to a new culture. When you return home, you will find it hard to access Korean foods you learn to love while living here. This diversity sounds fun on paper but can be hard to emotionally get used to in reality. In order to adapt to your new life, digging deeper into the culture shock surrounding grocery shopping may help. The following blogs may provide helpful insight into cultural differences and tools for navigating these changes. Shopping for Groceries in South Korea Shopping at Traditional Markets Where to Shop for Groceries Around Pyeongtaek Now you have armed yourself with more information about grocery shopping in South Korea. Here are many options for grocery shopping in and around Pyeongtaek. Pyeongtaek Malls Pyeongtaek Big Box Stores Pyeongtaek Neighborhood Marts Pyeongtaek Traditional Markets International Food Marts Online Delivery Options for Groceries If you don’t want to go out to shop, you can also have your groceries delivered. Learning to Cook Korean Food With all of the new ingredients that you’ll discover, it might also be time to learn some new recipes. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Who is wondering about buying groceries at Pyeongtaek Marts? About Grocery Shopping in South Korea Grocery shopping in Korea can be a unique experience for foreigners due to some distinct differences compared to Western countries. For example, Korean culture organizes its ingredients into different category systems, the packaging is in Korea, the staff speaks Korean, food in Korea requires many different ingredients, products may be packaged differently, and so much more. Where to Grocery Shop in Pyeongtaek There are many different types of grocery stores in Pyeongtaek. South of Seoul is dropping some recommendations based on your neighborhood and Pyeongtaek in general. Happy shopping! Grocery Store Recommendations We are going to share a few different store types 1) medium-sized marts, 2) mega marts, and 3) marts in malls. There are also halal groceries, international groceries, butchers, fruit stands, traditional markets, and more we will cover in other blogs. There are too many grocery-shopping options to cover in one blog! With that said, let’s jump straight to it. Where to grocery shop near Osan Air Force Base! Medium-sized grocery stores. Where to grocery shop near Camp Humphreys Medium-sized grocery stores. Mega Groceries in Pyeongtaek These are your Target (please don’t think they have the exact things as Target just because we said that) style stores with one floor of groceries and other floors of lifestyle goods. Grocery stores in malls in Pyeongtaek You can get a little grocery shopping done and shop for other things you might need. Here are some more blogs that are going to help you in the kitchen Read More About Grocery Shopping in Korea Want to know more about grocery shopping in South Korea? Read a few of these articles as well: South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Interested in visiting the traditional markets across Pyeongteak? Learn more and visit them soon! Here is what you need to know. About Traditional Markets in Pyeongtaek. While grocery stores that will be familiar to expats abound in South Korea, traditional markets offer an exciting chance to experience the culture and food of the area. Pyeongtaek offers four traditional markets which are open seven days a week. In addition to these permanent markets, there are also Five Day Markets that happen on certain days. Sometimes both the permanent and temporary markets happen in the same areas and sometimes they are in different areas. Three Reasons We Prefer Shopping at Traditional Markets These aren’t the only reasons we love the markets but they certainly are on the top of our list. Cultural Tips of Shopping at Traditional Markets We have done a whole separate blog don’t this topic, check it out by clicking the image below. Tongbok Traditional Market near AK Plaza Seojeong Traditional Market near-ish Osan Air Force Base Songtan Traditional Market near Osan Air Force Base and Songtan 4-9 market The Songtan daily Traditional Market and the Songtan 4-9 Market happen in roughly the same area. If you can find one, you can find the other. The 4-9 Market happens on any day ending with 4 or 9. For example: October 4, 9, 14, 19, 24, 29 Anjeong-ri 3-8 Market Anjeongri does not have a daily traditional market. Instead, vendors come on any day ending in a 3 or an 8 for example the market will be set up on October 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, and 28. Anjung Traditional Market near-ish Camp Humphryes Army Base The Anjung Traditional Market and the Anjung 5 Day market happen near each other but not in exactly the same location. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Sometimes it’s nice to get all your shopping done in one place. Here is what you need to know about the big-box retailers in South Korea including locations near Pyeongtaek, South Korea. What is a Big-Box Retailer? First of all, let’s talk about what a ‘big-box retailer is’: A big-box retailer is a retail store that occupies an enormous amount of physical space and offers a variety of products to its customers. These stores achieve economies of scale by focusing on large sales volumes. Because volume is high, the profit margin for each product can be lowered, which results in very competitively priced goods. The term “big-box” is derived from the store’s physical appearance. www.investopedia.com Although you might not be able to find everything you are used to from your home country, South Korea’s big stores provide almost everything you need to survive and thrive. It will take you some time to adjust to where your favorite things are stored in these massive stores, but once you get things figured out life will get much easier. Culture Tips of Visiting Big-box Stores in Korea for the First Time Not everyone needs this extra support in managing large complicated spaces in a new culture, but many of us do. If you struggle with feeling overwhelmed while settling into life in South Korea, the following information may help you get out and explore new big-box retailers: You may feel VERY overwhelmed on your first visit to a big-box store in South Korea as you learn to navigate systems created by a culture different than your own. That’s ok. Feeling overwhelmed feeling is a normal part of culture shock. The overwhelmed feeling will slowly fade as your knowledge of your surrounds increases. Allow plenty of time to figure things out. It may take A LOT more time to do your shopping because things are in new places and written in Korean. If it usually takes 30 minutes back home to do your shopping, give yourself 1-1.5 hours on your first trip to a new big-box store. You can use Papago or Google Translate to help read the packaging and ask for assistance from staff. Consider giving yourself and others around you extra grace. During this uncomfortable time, try to focus on the factthat feeling uncomfortable, angry, or overwhelmed does not equal yourself or others as bad. Hold grace for yourself and the new culture. Feel those feelings. Reflect on what causes those feels without judgment. Take a rest. Nearly every big-box store has a place to take a rest and grab a coffee and a stack. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of this. Don’t force yourself to push through. You are allowed to step away and take a moment. Self-care is life when dealing with culture shock. Manage your expectation before you go. This is a new country, a new store, and a new life. Needs you expect to have met by the box-store might not be bet. Expectations about what will be available will likely not be met. Expectations about how things will be organized may not be met. If you manage your expectations and leave yourself open to new experiences, things may go much more smoothly on your first visit. It gets easier each time you go. Resiliance is everything. If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. Each time you visit the store it will become easier to navigate and eventually you will feel like a big-box store superhero. You can do this even if it’s incredibly uncomfortable one the first visit. What Big-box Retailers are in Korea? Korea has six primary big-box stores retails. These offer a westernized “mega” buying experience where you can find groceries, housing items, clothing, camping, electronics, and more. There are big-box retailers that follow the Costco trend and other big-box retail that follow the Target trend. Costco Style Big-Box Retailers in Korea Costco Membership required. Memberships from Costcos in other countries are accepted at Costco in Korea. As always, cash is king at Costco. Basically exactly like Costco from home, but with a selection of items that leans in a more Korean direction. That means more rice and ramen options. This is where many international residents go for cheese, wine, meat, and comfort foods. If you can get to Costco, it will cut your grocery bill dramatically. E-mart Traders No membership is required, open to the general public. Similar to Costco, but you don’t always have to buy massive amounts of something. E-mart traders also has an excellent assortment of cheese, sausages, and veggies at affordable prices. Selection is limited, but prices are great. MegaMart No membership is required, open to the general public. Similar to Costco and E-mart traders with slightly more commitment to the local market. Target Style Retailers Big-Box Retailers in Korea E-Mart Not a budget option but they have a lot of things folks need. If you are from the United States you might find it similar to Target, Wal-mart, or Fred Meyer. You can learn more by visiting the Emart website. E-mart also owns and operates a second brand called, funny enough, No Brand. These are small stores not impacted by the bib-box store closing days. Homeplus   Basically the same things as E-mart, but with a slightly different selection and lower prices on many things such as clothing. A great place to pick up cheap, generic clothing. Lotte Mart Lotte Mart is the premium version of Homeplus and E-mart, now super expensive but with fewer overall deals. Special Monthly Closing Days for Big-Box Retailers Over a decade ago, South Korea mandated that big-box retailers close twice a month in order to help push money back into the community and support smaller businesses. Usually, such retailers will close on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, however, there is no mandated government rule stating which days the stores must close. Since there is no rule mandating the closed days, each region is free to set their own closed days and some might close on Wednesday instead of Sunday, or they may close on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. You will need to check store websites in order to confirm the closed days in your area. You can also contact 1330 for help in this matter. If you live near Camp Humphreys or Osan Air Force base in Pyeongtaek, you will want to know that, in Pyeongtaek and Cheonan, their closed days are the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. Exceptions to the Rule Big-box retail shops attached to malls may not have to close when the mall is open year-round. For example, in Anseong, the E-Mart Traders does not close every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. Reasons to Shop at Big-box Stores A Familiar Shopping Experience If you are stressed out by all the new choices and experiences, shopping at one of these box stores may feel comforting. Things will still be different but many things will also be the same. It can feel comforting to shop in a space that feels closer to your home culture as you adapt to Korean life. Variety of International Food Items You will find the widest selection of cheese and other western food items at these larger stores. Having familiar food items at home can help you manage culture shock. Everything in One Place You can get a lot taken care of without needing to navigate to many different parts of town. Many big-box stores even offer dry cleaning, key making, passport photos, pharmacies, pet stores, and more. You can run all your errands in one spot. Western Holiday Shopping The big box stores (like malls) will usually offer solid holiday shopping for westernized holiday decore for Halloween and Christmas. You will be able to find things like Christmas trees, Halloween candy, pumpkin pie, turkeys, etc. Big-Box Retailers in Pyeongtaek Big-box Stores Near Pyeongtaek South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Today let’s learn about cooking dakgalbi (닭갈비) at home! Dakgalbi is a fabulous stir-fried chicken dish with with a gochujang-based sauce that often includes cabbage, sweet potatoes, rice cake (tteok 떡 ), scallions and other ingredients. You can enjoy this at your favorite restaurant. However this is a great dish to prepare ahead and cook directly on your table in front of your family or guests! About the South of Seoul “A Year to Learn Korean Cooking’ Series Many of us live in South Korea for only a year. However, time flies past faster than we can imagine. At South of Seoul, we decided to create a simple series that will offer 2-4 dishes to learn each month so that when you leave South Korea you have a slew of new dishes you feel comfortable making anywhere. This series is a collaboration with Kimchi Rednecks. In 2020 they created the first blog in this series Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food. These two love to have adventures in the kitchen and share the results with their community. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea. About Dakgalbi Dakgalbi consists of chopped chicken marinated in a spicy Korean sauce and stir fried with cabbage, sweet potatoes, perilla leaves, rice cakes and other ingredients. The dish is very popular and there are many restaurants that serve this flavorful dish. Also, the most popular version of this dish now includes melted cheese to dip your chicken and vegetables. The dish itself, originated from the Chuncheon (춘천) area. Chuncheon is the capital of the Gangwon Province and has beautiful mountain and lake areas. Since it was created in the area, it is often referred to as Chuncheon dakgalbi. There is even a street in Chuncheon with many dakgalbi restaurants where you can go to enjoy this dish. Many restaurants will cook your dakgalbi on the table after you order it. However, there are some that will bring it to your table after it is cooked. Either way, you get to customize it with what you want in it (rice cakes, dangmyeon noodles, cheese, etc.). We always love to get ours with the rice cakes and plenty of cheese! And before you complete your meal of dakgalbi, leave some chicken and vegetable and ask for bokkeumbap 볶음밥, stir-fried rice. Once you have eaten through most of your dish, you can add rice to the pan. Then, you cook it with the leftover chicken, vegetables, and sauce. This makes a fabulous end to your dakgalbi meal. In addition, this is easy to do if you are cooking at home too! Biggest Hurdle in Cooking Dakgalbi The biggest hurdle for us when cooking dakgalbi at home is that I tend to try to load the pot with way too much food at one time! When you cook this dish at home, remember if you plan to add cheese into the pan for dipping, you want to leave some room for making the cheese trough. We love the ease of this dish. You can prepare all your ingredients ahead of time and have it in the pan and ready to be cooked when it’s time for dinner. Whenever serve it for family or guests, we have the portable gas stove on the table waiting for the pan of dakgalbi. Three Recommended Cooking Dakgalbi Videos to Watch Check out these three videos for recipes on how to cook dakgalbi at home. And remember if your family isn’t quite into the high level of spice, you can always choose to reduce the amount of gochugaru in the sauce to make it more pleasing to them. Korean American Cooking Dakgalbi Korean Cooking Dakgalbi American in Korea Cooking Dakgalbi Let Us Know How It Turns Out When you make dakgalbi for the first time at home, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it turned out! Also, if you live in Pyeongtaek, you can even share your success (or failure) with us in the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook group. If you are looking for other dishes (Korean or otherwise) or reviews of restaurants, be sure to check out the KimchiRednecks channel or check out our social media accounts on Facebook or Instagram, where we often share what we are cooking or eating. Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

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Today let’s learn about cooking bibimbap 비빔밥 at home! Bibimbap is one of Korea’s most popular foods. It is a dish comprised of mixed vegetables, beef and rice. Depending upon your tastes, there are many ways to diversify this dish. About the South of Seoul “A Year to Learn Korean Cooking’ Series Many of us live in South Korea for only a year. However, the time flies past faster than we can imagine. At South of Seoul, we decided to create a simple series that will offer 2-4 dishes to learn each month so that when you leave South Korea you have a slew of new dishes you feel comfortable making anywhere. This series is a collaboration with Kimchi Rednecks. In 2020 they created the first blog in this series Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food. These two love to have adventures in the kitchen and share the results with their community. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea. About Bibimbap Bibimbap is a delicious rice dish with mixed vegetables and beef mixed with a spicy gochujang sauce. “Bibim” (비빔) literally means ‘to mix’ and “bap” (밥) means ‘rice.’ Generally, the dish is served as a bowl of rice with vegetables and meat on top and then mixed with the spicy gochujang sauce. Additionally, as wide varieties are available, you change the ingredients to your liking. Then, you can also choose whether to have this in a heated stoneware bowl referred to as dolsot bibimbap 돌솥비빔밥. In my opinion, dulsot bibimbap is the best because the bowl is served sizzling with the rice getting a deliciously crispy texture. Three regions in Korea are famous for their versions: Jeonju, Jinju and Tongyeong. In Jeonju, there is a Bibimbap Festival that occurs in the Fall usually in October. A few of the most common styles of bibimbap are: Biggest Hurdle in Cooking Bibimbap If you are making all of your banchan  반찬 at the same time as your bibimbap, this can feel like a time-consuming and quite overwhelming dish. There are a couple of options that might make this a bit easier for you. First, you can make banchan earlier in the week reducing the amount of time in the kitchen. Plus, you can enjoy your banchan during the week too. Secondly, you can purchase some premade banchan at the grocery store, market. There are also specialty stores that sell banchan as well. If you choose to make dolsot bibimbap, you will want to have a stone pot or ttukbaegi 뚝배기 and cook it on a gas stove. If you do not have a gas stove, we got the delicious crispy rice texture by putting sesame oil in the bottom of our stone pot, adding the rice, and pressing it down to allow it to cook. We then put the stone pot in the oven to heat and create the scorched rice (also referred to as nurungji 누룽지). Three Recommended Cooking Bibimbap Videos to Watch Since this is a popular food, it is easy to find this dish in local restaurants. Cooking bibimbap at home takes time but is so worth it. This dish is the first Korean food that Chuck chose for me to try, so it always will be my favorite dish here. Korean American Cooking Bibimbap Korean Cooking Bibimbap American in Korea Cooking Bibimbap Let Us Know How It Turns Out When you make bibimbap for the first time at home, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it turned out! Also, if you live in Pyeongtaek, you can even share your success (or failure) with us in the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook group. If you are looking for other dishes (Korean or otherwise) or reviews of restaurants, be sure to check out the KimchiRednecks channel or check out our social media accounts on Facebook or Instagram, where we often share what we are cooking or eating. Jeonju: The Home of Bibimbap No bibimbap journey is complete without a visit to Jeonju, the birthplace of this beloved Korean dish. Nestled in the heart of the city, Jeonju Hanok Village offers not only a cultural escape with over 700 traditional houses, hanbok rentals, and historic sites, but also the most authentic way to savor bibimbap where it all began. To plan your trip and discover the best spots, check out these United on the RoK guides: Jeonju Hanok Village Guide: Parking, Attractions & Travel Tips and Discover Jeonju Hanok Village: Korea’s Cultural Escape into Tradition, Food, and History. Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

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Today let’s learn about cooking gyeran jjim 계란찜 at home! Gyeran jjim, or Korean steamed egg, is a deliciously silky, fluffy egg souffle-style side dish. This dish is a popular option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. About the South of Seoul “A Year to Learn Korean Cooking’ Series Many of us live in South Korea for only a year and we want to learn how to make Korean food. However, time flies past faster than we can imagine. At South of Seoul, we decided to create a simple series that will offer 2-4 dishes to learn each month so that when you leave South Korea you have a slew of new dishes you feel comfortable making anywhere. This series is a collaboration with Kimchi Rednecks. In 2020 they created the first blog in this series Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food. These two love to have adventures in the kitchen and share the results with their community. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea. About Gyeran Jjim Gyeran jjim 계란찜, also known as volcano steamed eggs, is a popular banchan (side dish) that is served for breakfast, lunch or dinner both in restaurants at home. Gyeran 계란 means eggs and jjim 찜 refers to a dish that is steamed. This dish is also occasionally referred to as dalgyaljjim 달걀찜 because dalgyal 달걀 is another word used for eggs in Korea. Gyeran jjim is a simple dish made up of eggs and broth, often with other ingredients like green onions, sesame seeds or even other vegetables. Also, the broth can vary from water to anchovy stock, chicken stock or vegetable stock. Many Korean barbecue locations have this side dish on the menu. It is also frequently eaten as breakfast with a bowl of rice or bowl of doenjang jjigae 된장찌개. This dish is often cooked in at ttukbaegi 뚝배기, which is an earthenware pot with a thick bottom that holds heat in well. If you are cooking this without a ttukbaegi, make sure your pot has a thick bottom and holds heat well. Biggest Hurdle in Cooking Gyeran Jjim This dish has been on our list for a long time. We both love this dish so much. Therefore, the idea of not being able to make it home gave us quite a bit of anxiety. I worried about the dish being flat and deflated instead of fluffy and silky. However, I found that the real challenge is ensuring you don’t overcook the dish. If you want a velvety smooth texture, you need to whisk the eggs thoroughly. We used the method that heats the ttukbaegi first and then adds the broth to it. You bring your broth to a soft boil, not a rapid high boil. When you add the egg mixture to the broth, you must whisk the eggs into the broth for that silkiness. If you don’t incorporate both the egg mixture and the broth, you might end up with strands of cooked egg. If you want a lighter and silkier texture to your gyeran jjim, having more stock than eggs will help but also cause it to deflate faster. However, if you have more eggs in your dish than stock, the dish will be heavier in texture but hold the explosive, volcanic, steamy state longer. Below you will see our most recent gyeran jjim in our Instagram Feed (feel free to follow us on Insta for more local life content!). Three Recommended Cooking Gyeran Jjim Videos to Watch You will find that there are many methods for cooking gyeran jjim. The most often used in restaurants is ttukbaegi gyeran jjim 뚝배기 계란찜. When that eggy goodness comes to your table steaming and bubbling, it is amazing. Check out the following videos to see other methods and recipes for cooking gyeran jjim at home. We hope you will be as excited with your success as we were. Korean American Cooking Gyeran Jjim Korean Cooking Gyeran Jjim American in Korea Cooking Gyeran Jjim Let Us Know How It Turns Out When you make gyeran jjim for the first time at home, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it turned out! Also, if you live in Pyeongtaek, you can even share your success (or failure) with us in the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook group. If you are looking for other dishes (Korean or otherwise) or reviews of restaurants, be sure to check out the KimchiRednecks channel or check out our social media accounts on Facebook or Instagram, where we often share what we are cooking or eating. Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

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