12 Things We Learned About Korea From Watching Kdramas

The first Kdrama I ever watched was Lie To Me, and the main reason I began watching it was because I didn't know anything about modern Korea and wanted to learn. And boy did I ever! I've even been teaching all the fans over on DramaFever's Facebook page. Here are 12 things I've learned about Korea from watching Kdramas.

What other fun, exaggerated things have you learned about Korea from watching Kdramas? What about American dramas? Comment below!

12 Things We Learned About Korea From Watching Kdramas

Korean Ice Cream Taste Test: Guest Post at DramaFever

It’s summer, it’s hot, and you’re watching your favorite K-drama on DramaFever. All of a sudden, the leading man buys the female lead ice cream to demonstrate his love, like in Lie To Me, or the leading lady shoves ice cream in the leading man’s face, like in Boys Over Flowers, or the main couple finally get together after all the turmoil and are now able to share ice cream as they cuddle, like in Coffee Prince. What better way to share in their experience than to go out and try some Korean ice cream for yourself?

At DramaFever, we did just that. I took a little trip over to K-town here in New York City, and got some delicious Korean frozen treats for the DramaFever staff to taste test. The taste testing panel included Jeremy, Nick, and Ahnmin from DramaFever, and I. We scored the ice cream on intensity of flavor, sweet balance, texture, and aftertaste to determine which Korean ice cream is the best.

1. Melona: This is a Korean ice cream classic that is very popular around the world. The light green, melon flavored ice cream is shaped like an American popsicle, but has a creamier texture.

Impressions
Nick: “Melt in your mouth melon!”
Ahnmin: “Flavor and sweetness are most pronounced. The creamy texture could be both a good and a bad thing.”
Jeremy: “Refreshing and flavorful. Not too sweet. Perfect flavor.”
Coco: “Smooth and tasty! The green melon flavor is delightful.”

Score
Intensity of Flavor: 15/20
Sweet Balance: 17/20
Texture: 18/20
Aftertaste: 12/20
Total: 62/80
Rank: 2nd Place

2. Tank Boy: This white, slushy ice is Asian pear flavored. It comes in a plastic squeeze bottle.

Impressions

Nick: “I’m just confused what this is...”
Ahnmin: “Tasted like a foot.”
Jeremy: “Way too sweet. Nauseating.”
Coco: “Has a slightly odd, slushy texture.”

Score
Intensity of Flavor: 11/20
Sweet Balance: 12/20
Texture: 10/20
Aftertaste: 8/20
Total: 41/80
Rank: 4th Place

3. Sweet Corn: This yellow ice cream bar on a stick contains whole pieces of corn in it’s creamy base.

Impressions
Nick: “Corn is not meant for dessert. Ever.”
Ahnmin: “Actually not that bad. The natural sweetness of corn works, but the texture was strange.”
Jeremy: “This should not be an ice cream flavor!”
Coco: “I was intrigued by, but also scared of, the visible chunks of corn. I was right to be scared!”

Score
Intensity of Flavor: 7/20
Sweet Balance: 14/20
Texture: 8/20
Aftertaste: 6/20
Total: 35/80
Rank: 5th Place

4. Screw Pop: This pink, fruity popsicle is curved around like a screw.

Impressions
Nick: “Just your average ice pop.”
Ahnmin: “Too sweet! I got a cavity from one bite.”
Jeremy: “A cold, refreshing fruit flavor.”
Coco: “The sweetness was too intense. Nothing unique about it.”

Score
Intensity of Flavor: 14/20
Sweet Balance: 11/20
Texture: 15/20
Aftertaste: 14/20
Total: 54/80
Rank: 3rd Place

5. Samanco: This fish-shaped rice wafer is filled with layers of vanilla ice cream and sweet red bean paste.

Impressions
Nick: “One of the Korean desserts to taste!”
Ahnmin: “Wafer, vanilla ice cream, and red bean create a stunning flavor combination. Would be perfect if it was more crunchy. The wafer tends to get soggy.”
Jeremy: “A fishy ice cream sandwich, without the fish taste. Love it!”
Coco: “I love cute things, and this is totally cute and delicious. Score!”

Score
Intensity of Flavor: 17/20
Sweet Balance: 18/20
Texture: 15/20
Aftertaste: 16/20
Total: 66/80
Rank: 1st Place

The overall favorite Korean ice cream from our sample was Samanco! The fish shape is just so cute and fun! The red bean paste makes it distinctly Korean, while the vanilla ice cream and rice wafer give it a delightful texture that tastes similar to a standard ice cream cone. Melona came in at a close second with its smooth and creamy taste. The least favorite was Sweet Corn. Sorry, but we decided that corn should just not be in ice cream!

Overall, we had a great time trying out these Korean treats, and now we will be able to recognize them in our favorite Kdramas. Hopefully you can go out and try them for yourself. What is your favorite, or least favorite Korean ice cream? What is your favorite Kdrama scene containing ice cream? Comment below.

Korean Ice Cream Taste Test: Guest Post at DramaFever

Kdrama Trends We Wish Existed In America: Matching Couple's Outfits!

For those of us Kdrama fans who do not live in Korea, we often wish we could take a little piece of Korean culture and transplant it to our country. One aspect of Korean fashion, that I really wish was currently a part of American fashion, is the couple's outfit!

I realize that this may not appeal to every Kdrama fan, but I don't believe that I am alone in this. I'll go ahead and admit that I've always had a thing for matching. One of our other best friends and I used to match on purpose quite often (and this was not when we were 12, this was in college). I somehow could not find any good examples while browsing my old Facebook photos, but these matching picnic hats from about 5 years ago will have to suffice.

What actually inspired this post, though, was this photo of my parents recently posted on my family Facebook page in, guess what, a couple's outfit!

Turns out that my lovely grandmother hand-sewed these for them when they were newlyweds back in the 70's. She even made a matching bandana for their dog. Cutest! So apparently loving matchy things is actually hereditary.

Which explains why I just can't get enough of this:

Cutest couple's outfit ever!
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This guy is a trooper!
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This one is kind of classy.
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Hot!
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And wish I saw more of this in America:

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Ok, maybe not this. This was actually quite terrible. Matching outfits entirely made of denim are never a good idea, even if you are Brittany Spears and Justin Timberlake. How about this instead:

Couple's and dog Pajamas!  I want to be them! Maybe...
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I think this is what Vivi and her
 husband will look like in 40 years.
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Umm, so when I typed in "couple's outfits America" it only came up with Brittany and Justin, old people, and Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

This guy is totally digging the couple's outfit. Good one K-dash!

This is why we need more American participants. I live in NYC, maybe I can somehow get the couple's outfits fashion ball rolling here!

In the very least, one day I will either have twins I can dress matchy, or will make my children wear matching clothes with me!

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So who out there is with me on this? Are there any other Korean drama things you wish were in your country? Comment below.  

Kdrama Trends We Wish Existed In America: Matching Couple's Outfits!

Essential Korean Terms for Love Interests: Guest Post at Viki

Coco ad Vivi are both currently out of town, but we still found some time to do a guest post for Viki.  We are working on some more reviews as well!

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As summer heats up and Kdrama fans make plans to visit Korea (we wish!), we thought it would be helpful for us to share some Korean phrases that you will need to know for when you run into those rich chaebols and heiresses. We all know, from watching Kdramas on Viki, that when you meet your love interest there is a progression of emotions that you will feel. Here are 5 essential Korean phrases for each phase of your relationship.



1. Phase 1: Hey, do you want to die?

According to Kdramas, most romantic relationships don't start off well. Usually the male and female have a bad run-in with each other that results in mutual hatred. Sometimes this takes the form of violence and/or threats, as in Boys Over Flowers and Protect the Boss. In case this is how your relationship begins with your love interest, we recommend that you learn the Korean phrase for "Hey, do you want to die?".

2. Phase 2: Stop appearing before my face!

Oftentimes, the hatred between two characters evolves into a milder feeling of mutual annoyance. This usually occurs after the main couple has had several awkward encounters, such as in Lie to Me. In case this happens to you, we also recommend that you learn the Korean phase for "Stop Appearing before my face!".  Don't worry though; most likely you will enter into some sort of agreement to fake a relationship that is mutually beneficial for you, and which gradually ramps up your romantic interest in the other person.

3. Phase 3: Now do you see me as a man/woman?

Once you and your new Korean love interest have been tolerating each other for a while, it's time to take the next step by willfully invading the other person's space and asking awkward questions. See A Gentleman's Dignity as your guide to this move. Even though the obvious answer here is "Am I blind?  What kind of person could NOT see you as a man?" it is actually in your best interest to slide away coyly and feign disinterest--for now.

4. Phase 4: I don't have the confidence.

All great Korean romances have absurd obstacles thrown in the way.  Without them, it just wouldn't be true love!  At this point, the most advanced lovers think, "I know!  The best way to deal with this problem is to totally cut off communication and give up on our relationship!"  If you have seen anything with Park Shin-hye in it (You're Beautiful or Flower Boy Next Door, for example), you know exactly what to do.  Work those puppy eyes!

5. Phase 5: I love you.

If phase 4 makes you sad, don't fret!  It's only a temporary ploy until you get to the final phase: complete and total bliss with the one you love!  Just pray that you get a good kiss instead of one of those frozen ones.  You've earned it!

Essential Korean Terms for Love Interests: Guest Post at Viki

Getting to Know Korean Ramen: Taking the Soompi Taste Test Challenge!

The fun Korean media news site, Soompi, recently asked Do You Know Your Korean Ramen? I shamefully had to respond that despite all the Korean ramen I have viewed being eaten on Kdramas, no, I actually did not know. The closest I had ever come to it was the infamous, cheap, Top Ramen that you usually eat when you are in college and can only spend $.25 on a meal, or when you are just too lazy to make real food (which happens more than I'd like to admit), or when you're watching a Kdrama and see them eating it and want some even though you're not actually hungry but think you can get away with eating it anyway because all the Kdrama female leads eat ridiculous amounts of food and are still thin.

But guess what? I am lucky enough to live near Ktown in NYC, so I have no excuse to be Korean ramen ignorant any longer! This weekend I decided to take the Soompi ramen challenge by sampling 5 ramens from their list. There are 10 on the list, but I just couldn't do it, ok? You try eating more than 5 ramens over a three day weekend! In order to conduct a ramen taste test you need:


1. An Assortment of Korean Ramen
Down in Ktown they have this awesome little Asian market, Hanahreum, that has an entire aisle of instant ramen. It was a ramen aficionado's dream!

These are the 5 ramen contenders I chose for the challenge.

Korean ramen does not look that different than regular old Top Ramen, but I did notice some differences. The biggest difference is that Korean Ramen includes a separate package for dried vegetables to add. Here is an example of what Korean Ramen looks like uncooked.

2.  A Ramen Pot

You know you've seen these beauties on kdramas and wanted one! I managed to pick one up.  The best part was that right after I made my first ramen package I sat down to watch Answer Me 1997, and look what she was making!

I just had to eat my ramen off the lid since Kdrama characters are always claiming who gets it. It really did taste better that way.

3.  Korean Chop Sticks

I mentioned in my last blog post about visiting Ktown that I am terrible at eating with chopsticks, particulary Korean ones because they are metal. Luckily I found some for this taste test and now I start practicing with them at home!

With all the necessary supplies ready, I began the task of determining which instant Korean ramen was the best.

1. Paldo Namja Ramen

                    

I thought this was really good Korean ramen. That being said, I have a pretty high spice tolerance. I am originally from Arizona so I grew up eating a lot of Mexican food. I would say that my spice threshold is more than the average white American, but less than the average Asian. I would give this ramen a spice rating of 4 out of 5. It made my nose run and gave me a mild lip burn, but I wasn't running around trying to find something to drink. The noodles were perfect with a good roundness and softness, and did not taste overly processed. The overall flavor was mostly just spicy, but it had a nice beefy broth. My roommate and I both went back to the ramen pot for more, only to discover that we already ate it all.

2. Jin Ramen

              

This was my last favorite ramen. It just seemed pretty bland. The overall flavor was just salty. The noodles were also kind of gummy and overly processed tasting. I would give it a 2.5 out of 5 on the spicy scale. It would still be considered spicy for a lot of white Americans. My roommate and I didn't even have the urge to finish the pot. 

3. Shin Ramyun Black

            

This ramen was pretty tasty. The overall flavor was mushroomy and beefy. I would give it a 3 out of 5 on the spice scale. My nose did run a little but there was no lip burn. The noodles were nice and soft without being gummy. The little packet of dried vegetables that came with it added a nice texture. Only eat this ramen if you really love mushrooms. 

4. Samyang Spicy Beef

          

This ramen had a nice beefy flavor with a good amount of spice. I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 on the spice scale. I wanted to go back for more as I ate it. One strange downside to this ramen is that it is very orangey, so much so that it tinted my teeth orange. Gross. 

5. Kokomen Clean Spicy Chicken

This was my favorite ramen overall. As I leaned over the pot to cook it, I whispered out loud, "Oh my gosh, that smells really good." The funny thing is that on the package the flavor is labeled as "clean" and "spicy". I was really curious to find out what "clean" tasted like, but I actually think this is a really good description for this ramen. It just looked light and fresh, and not greasy or overly processed. The noodles were nice and soft and round. It had a delightful chicken and green onion flavor. The dried vegetables you add in were very prominent, especially the green onions, but I liked that. I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 on the spice scale, which I think is perfect because spicy doesn't become the main flavor, but still plays a big part. I think this is a great choice for a kdrama fan to sample.

Hopefully this has inspired you to conduct your own Korean ramen taste test. You should try the other five on Soompi's list and let us know what you think. Have you ever tried Korean instant ramen? What are your favorites? Comment below.

Also, I found a few other gems at the Korean market, which means stayed tuned for more posts about my forays into Korean food and culture in Ktown, New York City!

Getting to Know Korean Ramen: Taking the Soompi Taste Test Challenge!