Have you eaten redux

Judy wrote a post about women in the kitchen who never seem to share meals for the people they’re cooking for. I want to expand on the theme of food here.

I’ve noticed in many Kdramas there is an overriding concern about whether the characters have eaten. This can happen at any time day or night, in someone’s home, or in the middle of the street. We don’t have the same custom in our country. If someone comes to my home, I always ask them if they would like anything to drink, but that’s about it. I don’t have something bubbling on the stove for them. Koreans always have instant noodles-both udon and ramyeon- to slurp. If I didn’t know that fat content of those little packages, maybe I’d have that at home myself!

Where did I go to get the answer to this question? Wikipedia of course. I got the most relevant information from a blog titled The Soul of Seoul: Living and Traveling in Korea. They point out that asking this question of “have you eaten?“ is akin to our asking “how are you?” And what do we answer? Nine times out of ten we say we’re fine, unless we are with very good friends and relatives. Then we say how we really feel. I think the Korean phrase has the same function as the American one, and the answer has to be the same. When they are asked, “”have you eaten?” the accepted response is “yes." Then no one is uncomfortable.

I’ve also noticed that when something very stressful is happening in a Kdrama, there is usually an actor who insists the other actor in the scene eats. Again, this can be where there is no food available. This must be part and parcel of the same etiquette and manners described above. Making sure that someone eats is the same as making sure they are okay. It’s a lovely sentiment.

Pat hits a nerve here. The focus on food and its importance to Koreans is truly remarkable. They treat eating as a soul affirming activity and critical to health. It's very subtle in Kdramas but if you watch enough of them you'll agree with us!