By Jae-Ha Kim
Kocowa.com
Novemver 25, 2020
Thanksgiving is going to look a little different this year for many Americans. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be less large family gatherings and more virtual get togethers where we will “eat” together, but apart. Sort of like our own personal mukbangs (which literally translates into eating broadcast).
While this isn’t an ideal situation for anyone, we can all try to make the best of it by preparing delicious meals, appreciating our families from afar and watching our preferred television. For some, that might be cheering on favorite football teams. For others (ahem, me), it will mean relaxing with as much K-entertainment as possible.
“Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok-Joo“
If there’s one day of the year where you can indulge in overeating, it’s Thanksgiving. But for the coeds in “Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok-Joo,” every day is like a holiday when it comes to meal time. One of the things that I love about this K-drama is that the girls know it’s frowned upon by society for young women to eat as much as they do, but they do it anyhow. They eat so they have enough stamina to excel in their sport (weightlifting), but also because they derive genuine pleasure from sharing delicious meals with each other. Enjoying food and appreciating nutritious value are things to be thankful for.
Turkey with mashed potatoes and all the fixings is a delicious treat to look forward to during U.S. holidays. But many Korean Americans supplement this traditional Thanksgiving meal with food our families grew up with, like japchae (glass noodles), pajeon (green onion pancakes) and, of course, kimchi. I swear, though, that after watching the cast of “Wok of Love” dig into heaping bowls of jajangmyeon (noodles in a savory black bean sauce), this makes me want to add these noodles to our menu this year.
I have always maintained that no one makes food appear more delicious than Korean actors in K-dramas. Case in point: everything that Han Ji Eun wolfs down in “Kkondae Intern” looks mouth-wateringly yummy. But what this series really gets across is how important food is in Korean culture. Obviously, we all need to eat to survive. But sharing meals is a way of showing how much you care for each other. Though hoesik (after-work get togethers between colleagues) can be a burden on some, its intent is to build morale and bolster team spirit by going out for dinner and drinks as a collective group.
“Big“
There’s something about picking out your own fresh ingredients and then turning them into your favorite dishes that makes mealtime feel like somewhat of an accomplishment. There are so many great K-drama shopping scenes, but one of my favorites is when Lee Min-Jung and Gong Yoo make a trip to the supermarket in “Big.” I enjoy this so much, because Gong Yoo is playing the role of a teenager stuck in a grown man’s body. As such, he helps turn a mundane chore into a fun event.
“VIP“
Since 1952, Black Friday — or the day after Thanksgiving — has signaled the start of Christmas shopping. It’s a day when many bargain hunters wake up early and head to their favorite stores to try to nab a discounted item or two. While there are few bargains to be found at this fictional luxury store in “VIP,” this scene resonates with those of us who have been judged as undesirable customers, simply because we don’t appear wealthy. If there’s a plus side to this pandemic (work with me here! I’m trying to make the best of this!), it’s that we can do almost all our holiday shopping at home, while eating leftover pumpkin pie.
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