By Honorary Reporter Emilia Bucsan from Romania

Photo = Korea.net Flickr

Koreans celebrate the new year twice, first according to the solar calendar and second based on the lunar calendar after the winter solstice. Lunar New Year in Korea is called Seollal. 

2021 will be the Year of the Ox under the Asian zodiac, a time for rewarding diligence, persistence and focus on putting ideas into practice. For Koreans, Seollal represents a prime opportunity to reunite with family through eating traditional food.

Tteokguk is rice cake soup that is traditionally eaten on Lunar New Year. (Korea.net Flickr)

One of the most popular Korean dishes during Seollal is tteokguk, a soup featuring rice cake slices, beef, garlic cloves, green onion and seaweed. The white color of the soup symbolizes a brand new start and a new opportunity for growth or self-development. It is usually served on Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 14 this year. One option is to add mandu (dumplings) to the soup to add flavor.

Jeon is a stir-fried pancake made with vegetables, meat, flour and eggs. (Korea.net Flickr)

Jeon complements well the milky rice wine makgeolli. (Korea.net Flickr)

Another dish served in Korea during Seollal is jeon aka buchimgae, a stir-fried pancake made with vegetables, fish, seafood or meat. After the ingredients are washed and cut, they are carefully coated with white flour and egg before being fried. Jeon has a multitude of uses as a side dish, appetizer or anju (food consumed with alcohol) next to a bottle of the milky rice wine makgeolli.

Japchae, or glass noodles mixed with sauteed vegetables and meat, is an essential part of the Seollal meal setup. (Korea.net Flickr)

Finally, another popular dish during Seollal is japchae (glass noodles with vegetables and meat), which was one of the first Korean dishes I tried. My first experience with this dish was at a festival hosted by my university in Romania. The chewy texture of the noodles and the rich aroma of the vegetables made me fall in love with japchae right away.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.