Bibimbap.

Teachers’ Magazine
Volume 4 • Issue 8
 2 Bibimbap Fall 2017 3

CHRIS DEVISON is the Provincial Coordinator for the Jeollanamdo

Language Program. He has lived in South Korea for almost 10
years, and has spent 6 of those years in his current position. ELIZABETH ANNE has taught at all levels in public schools in South
Aside from assisting public school teachers with their contract Korea since 2002, and at an International School on China’s east
coast. While at University she studied Food Science, Nutrition
and school life, he has a keen interest in health and
and Biology in addition to Elementary Teaching. She grew up in
wellness. Having lived in both Western and Eastern cultures,
multi-cultural New Zealand which influenced her to explore other
he has a strong understanding of the healthiest practices of both cultures and food.
worlds.

LINDSAY ROSS is a Canadian teacher living

in Mokpo. After getting her bachelor of MADELEINE GRACE has worked for JLP
education in 2011, she taught with JLP for four since 2015 and worked at a private
years at the middle and high school levels. academy in the year prior. Her journey
She now works at a university in Naju. to becoming an EFL teacher includes
Among other articles, Lindsay researches traveling to Dubai, Nepal, and several
and puts together the event calendar and other countries to research ESL and EFL
Korean language sections for Bibimbap. professionals. She also has earned her
M. ED in ESL Curriculum and Instruction.
Before pursuing teaching, she earned a
BFA in Photography and Design.

Shortly after completing his English degree RYAN THOMPSON

at the University of Georgia, COLIN “I was born and raised in the northeast
BISHOFF moved to South Korea in 2015 of the United States. Paused my
to pursue his dream of experiencing love of learning around 7th grade.
Asian culture. He has a passion for Graduated with a degree in
his native language in both its written Economics and resumed learning
and spoken forms, and he greatly after university. South Korea gave
respects the difference between a me the time and space to redirect
dash and a hyphen. An avid runner, my life trajectory. I taught in Jinhae,
Colin can often be found winding his South Korea last year and decided
way along Gwangju’s scenic Yeongsan to give Yeosu a try for year number
River. two. I enjoy playing basketball, tennis,
surfing(very badly), biking, hiking, and any
other sport.”

JO KIM moved to Korea to connect with family,

For questions and comments concerning articles please
contact the writers via their emails listed at the end of
their articles.
For general inquiries contact:
culture, and to experience things from a
different perspective. As an avid consumer
of things, Jo has two passions in life: Having
great conversations and food. Before coming
to Korea, Jo graduated with a degree in
Philosophy, and a degree in Education
specializing in Elementary Education. During free
time Jo likes to play board games, binge watch
shows, and travel.
STOCK PHOTOS FROM:
www.pexels.com
www.unsplash.com
www.freeqration.com
pixabay.com

Bibimbap. BibimbapNews@gmail.com

EST. 2013 • Volume 4 • Issue 8• Fall 2017

cover photo
Stock Snap Meet the team.
 Fall 2017 5

Contents
Recipe:
fourteen All Day Breakfast
ELIZABETH ANNE

six Upcoming Events

and Holidays
sixteen Analyzing North-South
Relations
LINDSAY ROSS CHRIS DEVISON

co-teacher relationships Fall Foods

eight RYAN THOMPSON
twenty COLIN BISHOFF

End of Year Class Recipe: Babsot Bites:

Apple-Roasted Roots &
Ideas
twelve MADELEINE GRACE
twenty Chestnuts with
seven Cinnamon-Ginger Glaze
COLIN BISHOFF
 6 Bibimbap Fall 2017 7
OCT 21 - NOV 26
Chrysanthemum Exhibition of
The Garden of Morning Calm
(아침고요수목원 국화전시회)

Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do,
South Korea

NOV 18-DECEMBER 31
E-World Starlight Festival
(이월드 별빛축제)

EVAEND N T S
Daegu, South Korea

NOVEMBER 24-26
Paju Jangdan Soybean Festival

R E
(파주장단콩축제)

M
FOR VISITO
A Y S
Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South

O L I D
Korea

NOVEMBER 30-DEC 3
Bangeo Festival
(최남단 방어 Fish 축제)

Seogwipo-si,
Korea

DECEMBER 7-11
Jeju-do, South
H BY LINDS
AY ROSS
EV
HT
E
TP
N
:/
T
/T
S
INYURL.COM
/EVENTSBIBIMBA
P

Seoul Design Festival

(서울디자인페스티벌)

Seoul, South Korea

 8 Bibimbap Fall 2017 9
South Korea. It’s located after landing in Korea barely able to say “an-
in the Southern nyeong-ha-se-yo” was not an easy task. Learning
Gyeongsang Province to communicate using body language and what
(Gyeongsangnam- few words I picked up along the way (and making
do) and is home to up stories to fill in the rest) was definitely a new

H E R
the Korean Navy. experience for me, and it taught me a few things

T E A C
You may have about the Korean way of life.

CELOA-TIONSHIPS
also heard that
Jinhae hosts one During my time at school, I came to realize that it
of the largest cherry is the Vice Principal more than anyone else who
blossom festivals in sets the overall tone of the school. At my main

R
South Korea, though school, the vice principal had quite a presence
that’s its only claim to and was loud and demanding of the Korean
fame. For the two weeks teachers. From what I understood from second-
N
Y RYAN THOMPSO surrounding the festival hand stories, he was manipulative, changed his
B mind frequently, and openly said nasty things to
each year, the place is a
complete parking lot. Outside and about the other teachers. Although he was
this time, however, it’s just a nice enough to me in person and did not affect
small countryside town that most me directly with his behavior, he absolutely did
Koreans barely pause to consider. so indirectly by putting undue levels of stress
Living on my own in a place like this, on my Korean co-workers. This happened
I realized just how much I relied on my numerous times to my main co-teacher,
relationships with my co-teachers to Minji. Though my vice principal and I
make it through. For the daily one-offs seemed to get along well enough,
like setting up my bank account, having we couldn’t really communicate
my co-teacher there to translate for me to one another effectively;
every step of the way made what seemed an we were both toddlers in
impossible task somewhat possible. Even with the other’s language.
her help, however, the number of times I had to
“Your relationship with your co-teacher is like an egg: it is fragile, sign my name made me feel like I was signing my
life away. (And I guess it’s totally possible that I
My travel school,
in contrast, had
and once it is broken, it cannot be put back together again.” really did sign away my life—I still have no idea a completely
The quote above comes from the recruiter I what all I signed, since everything was in Korean.) different
GOAL: mood.
worked with before coming to Korea, and this
To explain the ways in which co-teacher
statement shaped my initial view of how co- If you are a new teacher, this is something I cannot
relationships are the key to your Korean experience.
teacher relationships work. Though I agree with stress to you enough: your relationships with your
Your success or failure in communicating your first
this statement, there are also some points on which co-teachers (and more specifically, with your
impressions to your co-workers will largely hinge
I disagree. Co-teacher relationships are fragile, main co-teacher) will be the lifeblood of your
on your main co-teacher. If you speak Korean, this
but you can still repair them if you approach the Korean experience. If this is your first time in
may not apply to you. I am going to assume that
issues with tact and sensitivity. South Korea, this article is for you.
you are a new teacher in Korea and that you do
not speak Korean.
Last year, I found myself teaching in Jinhae, Proceeding to teach at two schools

The vice principal at this vice principal—a former music teacher—belting
school was warm, friendly, out Christmas tunes on his saxophone. This was
and laid back. Shortly my first time living in another country, and I wasn’t
into my contract expecting to hear songs that struck such strong
(which began emotional chords so far away from home. All I can
in December say is that his music was an absolute treat, and it
2015), I was touched me deeply.
pleasantly Like the vice principal, my main co-teacher at my
surprised travel school, Jisu, was warm and friendly. She
to hear invited me everywhere with her on the weekends,
this and during the week, she made every effort
to include me and make sure I had everything I
needed. The fact that our desks were set up side-
by-side and that we worked together upstairs in
the English Room helped us form a tight bond. She
had the ability to connect my interests with those
of the other Korean teachers so that I could get
along better with the rest of the staff. She
would get the conversation started for us
and then leave us to talk. Not only did
these conversations allow me to talk
with other members of the faculty
about sports, dinners, and other
activities, but they also led to
random and unforgettable
“side trips.” On one such
occasion, I somehow
found myself going
with the music
teacher
consult the
services of a
Fall 2017 11
traditional hanbok shoemaker. The shoes he sold your English co-teachers are the lifeblood of your
were handmade and cost the equivalent of a experience. Sometimes, your Korean co-workers
thousand US dollars. will only know about your thoughts and actions
through what your co-teachers translate for them.
Unlike Jisu, Minji would not invite me out on Hope and pray your co-teachers think of you in a
weekends because she had her own life outside positive light!
of school. This didn’t bother me, but it did keep
put a distance between us: the fact that I was so When you first get to South Korea to work in the
much closer to my other co-teacher made Minji public-school system, you have absolutely no one
uncomfortable. aside from your co-teachers. You may have a
welcome parade for you or you may be thrown
THE INCIDENT! aside to fend for yourself. Most likely, you’ll get
Later in the year, I mentioned to Jisu that I wouldn’t something in between, and it is your job to stay
be able to go on a trip I had planned due to a positive and always be ready to find opportunities
scheduling conflict with my main school’s summer to connect. I’ve realized that eating Korean food
camp. Jisu then proceeded to message Minji about and being curious about trying it all will go a
the issue. This greatly offended Minji to the extent long way in improving your likability. Are you a
that she said she did not want to be my co-teacher vegetarian or vegan? While I respect this choice
anymore. She said this wasn’t the first time she and even considered making the change myself
was getting information about my thoughts from before coming to Korea, I realized that doing
Jisu. so would only ostracize me further in a culture
in which meat plays such an important role. Do
ROCK BOTTOM! you like alcohol? Enjoy some beer with your co-
After reflecting for a night on how to resolve the workers! Or just impress them by saying you like
issue, I came to school the next day ready to rectify soju. Watch them laugh and say how strong you
the situation with Minji. When I got to work, I pulled are. If you don’t drink alcohol, that’s okay, but
her aside and apologized for telling Jisu first about remember to be respectful and try to find creative
the vacation problem. I also apologized for being ways to join in and participate. The best way
closer with Jisu, but I explained why this was the would be to actually learn some Korean!
to case. Minji and I ended up having dinner later in
the week, and we became closer than ever as a LESSONS LEARNED:
result. • Keep your schools separate and accept
them for what they are.
COACHABLE MOMENT: • Accept the help of others, but when others
“Rock Bottom” doesn’t have to remain a negative don’t make the effort, don’t be afraid to do things
point. If I hadn’t so greatly offended Minji, we yourself.
would have drifted along the rest of the year • Don’t make the situation worse than it is.
without really getting to know each other. Apologize even if it isn’t necessarily your fault. Try
to see things from the other person’s point of view.
Had I come in on the defensive rather than re- In my specific situation, my main co-teacher felt
centering myself and apologizing, I would have slighted because I was so close with the other co-
destroyed my relationship with Minji. As I’ve said, teacher.
12 Bibimbap
END OF THE YEAR CLASS IDEAS
BY MADELEINE GRACE
T
he end of the second semester is quickly
approaching and with that the end of the
school year. Sometimes, it’s easier to show movies
or TV shows once books and/or exams are
finished, but aren’t there more fun and interesting
ways to close out the semester? In my opinion,
yes. I totally understand that everyone is tired and
that preparing camp materials takes a massive
amount of energy and planning, but this doesn’t
mean we have to give up and “just watch movies.”
Rather, there are many ways to do a simple activity
(or activities) to close out the semester that don’t
involve gratuitous “movie days.”
CRAFT – PAPER FLOWERS
For the artistically-minded teacher, paper
“flowers” can be a great activity to do once exams
are finished. Creative options are here not an issue,
as there are tons of templates online that vary in
words becomes the winner. The teams are all
chosen by random number draws to try to prevent
favoritism.
SONG – TONGUE TWIST RAP
I actually have to thank my students for helping
inspire what has now become a major competition
during my classes. At the start of each year, I teach
tongue twisters as a way to improve pronunciation
and ease students back into classes after vacation.
(I like to revisit this activity at the end of the year
as a fun way to test for improvement.) When some
of my Year 2 girls started adapting the tongue
twisters to fit more “beat-box” rhythms, it inspired
“Tongue-Twister Rap.” I start by presenting a
tongue twister and giving the students five
minutes to review it and find a beat. They can work
individually or as groups, although most choose
to work alone. When time is up, students present
their raps and we then move on to the next twister.
I start with short and easy twisters but make them
progressively harder as we advance.
detail, size, and difficulty. Scissors, glue, paper,
and the petal templates are the only materials
FINAL THOUGHTS
needed, although markers can certainly make
things more interesting. As I teach high school, I
This is just a sample of the many creative activities
make my students write about what they learned
we can do at the end of the semester in place of
in the past year or describe something meaningful
movies. These ideas can also be used for camp or
to them on each petal. As simple as this project is,
even regular classes—I won’t limit your creativity!
the students seem to enjoy the process of making
This is, in a way, an extension of the low tech
the flowers, and it gives us a chance to review at
article from the last edition. I mean to continue
the same time.
that idea here while also addressing the demand
from students that we watch movies after final
GAME - SCRABBLE MATCHES
exams. The sense of entitlement that goes along
with always getting a movie (as students are
My school has a very generous budget for the
conditioned to feel as early as elementary school)
English department, and with some of that money,
just rubs me the wrong way. Normally, movies are
we purchased about six scrabble sets. Rather
saved in my classroom for times when we can
than have four students compete against each
do character analysis or other similar, thought-
other, we divide them into groups and make them
provoking activities.
compete against other groups of four. Whichever
team comes up with the most (correctly spelled)
14 Bibimbap Fall 2017 15

All-day Breakfast BY ELIZABETH ANNE

Our recipe for November is one I like to call “All-day ingredients should be easy to pick up both in small
Breakfast.” If you’re short on time or just not up for towns throughout the province and in the bigger
cooking but still want a tasty and well-balanced urban centres.
meal, try this one out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! As a straightforward yet delicious recipe, this dish

NTURE
N
The great thing about this recipe is that it focuses doesn’t require any fancy tools or gadgets—all
VE
AN AD
EO
on traditional Western staples, so most of the you’ll need is a frypan, chopping board, and knife!
FOR
GO O
M
U
C
T
H
GA L T U R E
INGREDIENTS: METHOD:

C UL L A G E
1 tablespoon of olive oil 1. Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a pan
2 rashers of bacon (I like to use bacon steaks) and/
and tilt the pan to spread the oil around.

VI
or mini sausages 2. Crack eggs into the oil and cook until the
1-2 eggs white has set.
1 large tomato 3. Slide the eggs out onto a plate.
Toast, for serving 4. Slice the tomato into quarters and fry lightly
in the pan. Plate slices when softened.
Tip: If you’re a vegetarian, you can replace the 5. Fry bacon rashers/mini sausages until
bacon/sausages with tofu and a bit of soy sauce. brown and plate. RESTAURANTS, WORKSHOPS, CAFES,
6. Serve with toast and coffee or tea. CRAFTS, ART, MUSEUMS
BUSAN GAMCHEON CULTURE VILLAGE
부산 감천문화마을
 s millions of our citizens continue to suffer the effects of the devastating hurricanes that have struck our country, I want to begin by expressing my appreciation to every leader in this room who has offered assistance and aid.
he American people are strong and resilient, and they will emerge from these hardships more determined than ever before.
ortunately,
16 Bibimbap
nd other reforms, the United weStates
have hasmoredone people veryworking
well since in Election
the United DayStates
last November
today than 8th. Thebefore.
ever stock market
Companies is at are
an all-time
moving high, back,acreating
record. Unemployment
job growth theislikes at itsoflowest
which level in 16 years,
our country has and
not because
seen in aofvery our long
regulatory
time. Fall 2017 17
T
nd it has just been announced that we will be spending almost $700 billion on our military and defense. Our military will soon be the strongest it has ever been.
ormorethan70years,intimesofwarandpeace,theleadersofnations,movementsandreligionshavestoodbeforethisassembly.Likethem,Iintendtoaddresssomeoftheveryseriousthreatsbeforeustoday,butalsotheenormouspotentialwaitingtobeunleashed. he past several months have seen a time of
We live in a time of extraordinary opportunity. Breakthroughs in science, technology and medicine are curing illnesses and solving problems that prior generations thought impossible to solve.
ut each day also brings news of growing dangers that threaten everything we cherish and value. steady saber-rattling between North Korea
erroristsandextremistshavegatheredstrengthandspreadtoeveryregionoftheplanet.Rogueregimesrepresentedinthisbodynotonlysupportterrorists,butthreatenothernationsandtheirownpeoplewiththemostdestructiveweaponsknowntohumanity.
uthority and authoritarian powers seek to collapse the values, the systems and alliances that prevented conflict and tilted the world toward freedom since World War II.
ternational criminal networks traffic drugs, weapons, people; force dislocation and mass migration; threaten our borders. And new forms of aggression exploit technology to menace our citizens. and the US, and it can often seem like there is no
o put it simply, we meet at a time of both immense promise and great peril.
is entirely up to us whether we lift the world to new heights or let it fall into a valley of disrepair. peaceful end in sight. The situation with the North
We have it in our power, should we so choose, to lift millions from poverty, to help our citizens realize their dreams and to ensure that new generations of children are raised free from violence, hatred and fear.
his institutionwasfounded in the aftermath oftwoworldwars to help shape this betterfuture. Itwas based on thevision thatdiverse nations could cooperate to protecttheirsovereignty, preserve theirsecurityand promote theirprosperity. is a complex issue, and it seems like the current
was in the same period, exactly 70 years ago, that the United States developed the Marshall Plan to help restore Europe. Those three beautiful pillars, they’re pillars of peace: sovereignty, security and prosperity.
he Marshall
me, our support Plan ofwas built onrecovery
European the noble is in ideafull that
accord the with
wholeour world
supportis safer
of the when nations
United Nations.are strong,
The success independentof the and Unitedfree.Nations
As President
dependsTruman upon said in his message
the independent to Congress
strength of its members. at that powers-to-be in each country are only further
oovercometheperilsofthepresentandtoachievethepromiseofthefuture,wemustbeginwiththewisdomofthepast.Oursuccessdependsonacoalitionofstrongandindependentnationsthatembracetheirsovereignty,topromotesecurity,prosperityandpeaceforthemselvesandfortheworld.
Wedonotexpectdiversecountriestosharethesamecultures,traditionsorevensystemsofgovernment.Butwedoexpectallnationstoupholdthesetwocoresovereignduties:torespecttheinterestsoftheirownpeopleandtherightsofeveryothersovereignnation. complicating things by persisting in what amounts
his
de is onthe
thebeautiful
basis ofvision
mutual ofrespect.
this institution.
Strong, And this is the
sovereign foundation
nations let theirforpeople
cooperation and success.
take ownership Strong,
of the futuresovereign
and control nations
theirlet
owndiverse countries
destiny. with different
And strong, sovereign values, different
nations cultures and
allow individuals todifferent
flourish indreams not just
the fullness coexist,
of the butworkby
life intended side
God.by
America, we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to watch. This week gives our country a special reason to take pride in that example.
to a playground spat between bullies. Though
We
nd are freedom celebrating
for thetheAmericans,
230th anniversary
and for of our beloved
countless millions Constitution,
around thethe oldest
globe whoseconstitution still in use
own countries havein found
the world today. inThis
inspiration its timeless
respect for document
human has nature,beenhuman the foundation
dignity and of the
peace, ruleprosperity
of law. I’m far from an expert on this issue, it’s one that
hegreatest(sic)intheUnitedStatesConstitutionisitsfirstthree,beautifulwords.Theyare“Wethepeople.”GenerationsofAmericanshavesacrificedtomaintainthepromiseofthosewords,thepromiseofourcountryandofourgreathistory.
America the people govern, the people rule and the people are sovereign. is beginning to consume more and more of my
was elected not to take power, but to give power to the American people where it belongs.
foreign affairs, we are renewing this founding principle of sovereignty. Our government’s first duty is to its people, to our citizens, to serve their needs, to ensure their safety, to preserve their rights and to defend their values.
s president of the United States, I will always put America first, just like you, as the leaders of your countries, will always and should always put your countries first.
conversations. For this reason, I’ll try to provide you
l responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their own citizens, and the nation-state remains the best vehicle for elevating the human condition. as concise a written explanation as I can to explain
ut making a better life for our people also requires us to work together in close harmony and unity to create a more safe and peaceful future for all people.
he United States will forever be a great friend to the world, and especially to its allies. But we can no longer be taken advantage of or enter into a one-sided deal where the United States gets nothing in return. why I still believe we will not see any confrontation
slongasIholdthisoffice,IwilldefendAmerica’sinterestaboveallelse.Butinfulfillingourobligationstoourownnations,wealsorealizethatit’sineveryone’sinteresttoseekafuturewhereallnationscanbesovereign,prosperousandsecure.
merica
merica’sdoes moreisthan
devotion speakon
measured forthethebattlefields
values expressed
where our in the
young United
menNations
and women charter. Ourfought
have citizens andhave paid the
sacrificed ultimateofprice
alongside to defend
our allies, from our freedom of
the beaches and the freedom
Europe, of many
to the deserts nations
of the Middlerepresented
East, to the in jungles
this great hall.
of Asia. on the peninsula. As always, I recommend for
is an eternal credit to the American character that even after we and our allies emerged victorious from the bloodiest war in history, we did not seek territorial expansion or attempt to oppose and impose our way of life on others.
stead, we helped build institutions such as this one to defend the sovereignty,
or the diverse nations of the world, this is our hope. We want harmony and friendship, not conflict and strife. We are guided by outcomes, not ideology. We have a policy of principled realism rooted in shared goals, interests and values.
security and prosperity for all. you to stay well-informed about these situations
hat realism forces
e challenges, threatsus toandconfront
even wars the question
that wefacing face, everyor doleader we have and enough
nation instrength
this room. and Itprideis a to question
confront wethosecannotdangersescapetoday or avoid. so thatWe our will (sic)
citizens slidecan down enjoy thepeace
path and of complacency,
prosperity tomorrow? numb to and to understand that mainstream media might
we desire to lift up our citizens, if we aspire to the approval of history, then we must fulfill our sovereign duties to the people we faithfully represent.
Wemustprotectournations,theirinterestsandtheirfutures.Wemustrejectthreatstosovereignty,fromtheUkrainetotheSouthChinaSea.Wemustupholdrespectforlaw,respectforbordersandrespectforculture,andthepeacefulengagementtheseallow. sometimes not be the best source of information.
nd just as the founders of this body intended, we must work together and confront together those who threaten us with chaos, turmoil and terror.
he scourge of our planet today is a small group of rogue regimes that violate every principle on which the United Nations is based. They respect neither their own citizens, nor the sovereign rights of their countries. First, I think we should look at the history of North-
the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph. When decent people and nations become bystanders to history, the forces of destruction only gather power and strength.
oonehasshownmorecontemptforothernationsandforthewell-beingoftheirownpeoplethanthedepravedregimeinNorthKorea.ItisresponsibleforthestarvationdeathsofmillionsofNorthKoreans,andfortheimprisonment,torture,killingandoppressionofcountlessmore.
We wereusing all witness
South relations and consider that the Korean War
rother bannedtonerve the regime’s
agents in deadly abuse when
an international an innocent
airport. We know American collegea student,
it kidnapped Otto Warmbier,
sweet 13-year-old was girl
Japanese returned
from atobeach America onlyown
in her to die a fewtodays
country later.her
enslave Weassaw it in the assassination
a language tutor for North of Korea’s
the dictator’s
spies.
this is not twisted enough, now North Korea’s reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons
n outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime, but would arm, supply and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life. conflict.
It is (1950-53) was one that never saw any winner.
o nation on Earth has an interest in seeing this band of criminals arm itself with nuclear weapons and missiles. Instead, the two sides (along with the other two
he United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.
he United States is ready, willing and able. But hopefully, this will not be necessary. major players, the United States and China)
hat’s what the United Nations is all about. That’s what the United Nations is for. Let’s see how they do.
is time for North Korea to realize that the denuclearization is its only acceptable future.
heUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilrecentlyheldtwounanimous15-to-nothingvotesadoptinghard-hittingresolutionsagainstNorthKorea.AndIwanttothankChinaandRussiaforjoiningthevotetoimposesanctions,alongwithalloftheothermembersoftheSecurityCouncil.Thankyoutoallinvolved. signed an armistice that divided Korea into the
ut we must do much more. It is time for all nations to work together to isolate the Kim regime until it ceases its hostile behavior.
WefacethisdecisionnotonlyinNorthKorea.Itisfarpasttimeforthenationsoftheworldtoconfrontanotherrecklessregime,onethatspeaksopenlyofmassmurder,vowingdeathtoAmerica,destructiontoIsraelandruinformanyleadersandnationsinthisroom. North and South. It was a brutal war that saw in
heIraniangovernmentmasksacorruptdictatorshipbehindthefalseguiseofademocracy.Ithasturnedawealthycountrywitharichhistoryandcultureintoaneconomicallydepletedroguestatewhosechiefexportsareviolence,bloodshedandchaos.
helongestsufferingvictimsofIran’sleadersare,infact,itsownpeople.RatherthanuseitsresourcestoimproveIranianlives,itsoilprofitsgotofundHezbollahandotherterroriststhatkillinnocentMuslimsandattacktheirpeacefulArabandIsraelineighbors. the range of 1 million casualties and scarred the
his wealth, which rightly belongs to Iran’s people, also goes to shore up Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship, fuel Yemen’s civil war and undermine peace throughout the entire Middle East.
We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles. And we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program. lives of countless more.
he Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don’t think you’ve heard the last of it, believe me.
is time
ations thatfortheythe haveentire unjustly
world todetained. join us And in demanding
above all,that Iran’s Iran’s government
government must endstop its pursuit
supporting of death and begin
terrorists, destruction.
servingIt its is time
own for peoplethe and regimerespect to freetheallsovereign Americansrights and of citizens of other
its neighbors.
he entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran’s people are what their leaders fear the most.
his is what causes the regime to restrict internet access, tear down satellite dishes, shoot unarmed student protesters and imprison political reformists. Since the end of the war (or the signing of the
rppressive
will theregimes Iranian cannotpeople endurereturn forever,
to the and nation’s the proud day will roots come as awhen centerthe ofpeople will face
civilization, culturea and choice:wealth,Will where
they continue their people down can the be pathhappy of poverty,
and prosperousbloodshed once and again?
terror,
armistice), there have been several incidents and
he Iranian regime’s support for terror is in stark contrast to the recent commitments of many of its neighbors to fight terrorism and halt its finance.
SaudiArabiaearlylastyear,Iwasgreatlyhonoredtoaddresstheleadersofmorethan50ArabandMuslimnations.WeagreedthatallresponsiblenationsmustworktogethertoconfrontterroristsandtheIslamicextremismthatinspiresthem. times of heightened tensions. A bomb planted
WewillstopradicalIslamicterrorism,becausewecannotallowittotearupournation,andindeed,totearuptheentireworld.Wemustdenytheterroristssafehaven,transit,fundingandanyformofsupportfortheirvileandsinisterideology.Wemustdrivethemoutofournations.

h -
is time to expose and hold responsible those countries who support and finance terror groups like Al Qaida, Hezbollah, the Taliban and others that slaughter innocent people.

t
by agents of the Northern government brought

o r
he United States and our allies are working together throughout the Middle East to crush the loser terrorists and stop the reemergence of safe havens they use to launch attacks on all of our people.

i n g N
ast month, I benchmarks
announced aand newtimetables
strategy for set victory in the fight against
I havethisalso evil totally
in Afghanistan.
changed From now on, our security interests in our will fightdictate the the length and scope of military
terroristoperations,

z
ot arbitrary up by politicians. the rules of engagement against Taliban and other groups. down a Southern plane in the months before the

n a l y
SyriaandIraq,wehavemadebiggainstowardlastingdefeatofISIS.Infact,ourcountryhasachievedmoreagainstISISinthelasteightmonthsthanithasinmany,manyyearscombined.WeseekthedeescalationoftheSyrianconflictandapoliticalsolutionthathonorsthewilloftheSyrianpeople.

A
he
erson. actions of the can
No society criminal
be safe regime of Bashar
if banned al-Assad,
chemical weapons including the use toof spread.
are allowed chemical Thatweaponsis why against
the United his own Statescitizens,
carried even out ainnocent
missile children,
strike on shocked the air the baseconscience
that launched of every the decent
attack. 1988 Korean Olympics, for instance, and there
WeappreciatetheeffortsoftheUnitedNationsagenciesthatareprovidingvitalhumanitarianassistanceinareasliberatedfromISIS.AndweespeciallythankJordan,TurkeyandLebanonfortheirroleinhostingrefugeesfromtheSyrianconflict.
he United that
esettlement Statesis designed
is a compassionate
to help thesenation, horribly andtreatedhas spent people, billions
and which and enablesbillions of theirdollars
eventual in return
helping to totheirsupport home this effort. to Webe seek
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rebuilding to process.
refugee have been any number of other episodes as well,
or the cost of resettling one refugee in the United States, we can assist more than 10 in their home region. Out of the goodness of our hearts, we offer financial assistance to hosting countries in the

s
egion, and we support recent agreements of the G-20 nations that will seek to host refugees as close to their home countries as possible. This is the safe, responsible and humanitarian approach. including abductions, naval clashes, and border

t i o n
or decades, the United States has dealt with migration challenges. Here in the Western Hemisphere, we have learned that over the long term uncontrolled migration is deeply unfair to both the sending and the receiving countries.

R e l a
or the sending countries, it reduces domestic pressure to pursue needed political and economic reforms, and drains them of the human capital necessary to motivate and implement those reforms. skirmishes. The most recent serious event—and

South
or the receiving countries, the substantial costs of uncontrolled migration are borne overwhelmingly by low-income citizens whose concerns are often ignored by both media and government.
wanttosalutetheworkoftheUnitedNationsinseekingtoaddresstheproblemsthatcausepeopletofleefromtheirhomes.TheUnitedNationsandAfricanUnionledpeacekeepingmissionstohaveinvaluablecontributionsinstabilizingconflictsinAfrica. one that had people looking for their nearest
he Unitedlike
rograms States continues
PEPFAR, tolead
whichfunds therelief;
AIDS worldthein humanitarian
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Initiative;theincluding
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We also thank the secretary general for recognizing that the United Nations must reform if it is to be an effective partner in confronting threats to sovereignty, security and prosperity. bomb shelters—occurred in 2010 with the sinking
oo often, the focus of this organization has not been on results, but on bureaucracy and process. In some cases, states that seek to subvert this institution’s noble ends have hijacked the very systems that are supposed to advance them.
or example, it is a massive source of embarrassment to the United Nations that some governments withOegregious
C H R ISofDEtheVISentire N budget human rights records sit on the U.N. Human Rights Council. of a South Korean frigate (the Cheonnam) and the
he United States is one out of 193 countries in the United Nations, and yet we pay 22 B Y percent
he United States bears an unfair cost burden. But, to be fair, if it could actually accomplish all of its stated goals, especially the goal of peace, this investment would easily be well worth it.
and more. In fact, we pay far more than anybody realizes.
bombing of Yeonpyeong Island.
Major portions of the world are in conflict, and some, in fact, are going to Hell. But the powerful people in this room, under the guidance and auspices of the United Nations, can solve many of these vicious and complex problems.
he American people hope that one day soon the United Nations can be a much more accountable and effective advocate for human dignity and freedom around the world.
the meantime, we believe that no nation should have to bear a disproportionate share of the burden militarily or financially. Nations of the world must take a greater role in promoting secure and prosperous societies in their own
egions.
hat is why, in the Western Hemisphere, the United States has stood against the corrupt, destabilizing regime in Cuba and embraced the enduring dream of the Cuban people to live in freedom. Every year, in fact, there seem to be predictable
My administration recently announced that we will not lift sanctions on the Cuban government until it makes fundamental reforms.
We have also imposed tough, calibrated sanctions on the socialist Maduro regime in Venezuela, which has brought a once-thriving nation to the brink of total collapse.
he socialist
misery dictatorship
everywhere it hasof
beenNicolas
tried.Maduro
To make has inflicted
matters terrible
worse, pain and
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good people
stealing of that
power country. This corrupt
from their electedregime destroyed
representatives to a prosperous
preserve nation byrule.
his disastrous imposing a failed ideology that has produced poverty and
he Venezuelan people are starving and their country is collapsing. Their democratic institutions are being destroyed. This situation is completely unacceptable, and we cannot stand by and watch.
s a responsible neighbor and friend, we and all others have a goal. That goal is to help them regain their freedom, recover their country and restore their democracy.
18 Bibimbap
times of escalating tensions. These usually follow
military exercises in the South or specific holidays
during which the North likes to show off its military
prowess, often by conducting missile tests. Such
displays are usually all for show, and as such, they
tend to fizzle out just as quickly as they come. As a
result, the media—who’s far too busy reporting on
other world events or finding the “next big thing”
to boost their ratings—rarely pays them much
attention .
Lately, however, the addition of “Rocket Man” and
his nemesis “the Dotard” has given the media
plenty of incoming content to keep ratings high.
On one hand, we have the spoilt, reckless son of the
Kim Dynasty who maintains a god-like presence
in his nation even as he cuts if off from the rest of
the world. On the other, we have what could likely
be the biggest embarrassment in political history
with a leader who lacks compassion, charisma,
tact, and—at times, it seems—even common sense.
Though the unpredictability of the two has caused
things to take longer to settle into place than we
might have expected, I write this with the sense
that things are slowly becoming more normalized
and expect they will be mostly forgotten by the
time of publication.
In addition to the history and what seems to be
a predictable pattern in North-South relations, I
think it is important to look at how a potential war
would benefit or affect each of the major players
involved.
THE UNITED STATES
In the event of a war, the USA has little to gain.
North Korea is a country of depleted resources and
has isolated itself for far too long to be of much
economic use to either America or the South—
not to mention that the US would doubtless find
it difficult to govern a citizenry who have been
brainwashed their entire lives to hate America.
The only positive outcome is that the US could stop
North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
NORTH KOREA
The people of North Korea
treat the Kim family like
gods, though whether this is
genuine reverence or merely
a ploy to stay alive is perhaps
less certain. Either way, such
power is something the Kim
family wishes to hold for future
generations, regardless of the
countless others who must
suffer to maintain it. Members
of the Kim regime know they
risk losing this power if they
go to war and that they face
imprisonment or even execution
should they lose.
North Korea has always
maintained that its nuclear
program is to counter
aggression and to deter other
countries from invading.
Though this may be true, the North has also used
the threat of nuclear arms as a bargaining chip
to procure a great deal of aid for its depleted
economy. That is, other countries provide this
much-needed aid so the North will agree to
talks. It’s kind of like giving a spoilt child candy for
misbehaving, but it has kept them in check in the
past.
Fall 2017 19
SOUTH KOREA CHINA
People in the South often talk of reunification China was also a major player in the Korean War
with the North, and while such hopes may be and will be greatly affected by any escalation
genuine, people generally seem to how unlikely or conflicts on the peninsula. China has already
this is when you get deep into discussion with strengthened defense of its border, and though this
them. With the exception of reuniting the last might be a strategy to place soldiers where they
few remaining families divided by the DMZ and can support North Korean forces, it’s more likely
the possibility of tapping into the North’s already that they intend to protect their own borders from
depleted resources, the South would be burdened a mass exodus of North Korean refugees trying
by adopting their much poorer neighbor to the to escape if things get too heated in the country.
north. Re-education of North Although China has been the North’s number-one
Korean society, government ally, they have now strengthened sanctions on
planning, infrastructure, etc., the North in hopes that it will encourage Northern
are all issues too grand to reallycooperation and help to de-escalate the situation.
fathom. China is also now at the forefront of global
economics and is emerging as the next world
South Koreans have worked power. Its wish is to maintain solid relations
hard to get where they are with other powers so it can continue to reap the
today and now live lives of financial benefits of those relationships.
relative comfort. To bring
the standard of living of their THE WORLD
Northern brothers to a level that In addition to the four major players mentioned
the South deems suitable would above, any war in the 21st century—and especially
be a project of insurmountable one of a nuclear nature—would have grave
budget and resources. To be consequences for the entire planet. The number
burdened any more than they of casualties could be unprecedented, and things
need to be seems unnecessary could spiral out of control into a world war—
to most in the South, who would something no one wants.
rather just enjoy the ride now.
For those of you that read my article on Dokdo
If the above issues weren’t in the last edition of Bibimbap, you can likely see
enough of a deterrent already, that status quo is once again the best outcome in
we must also remember that this situation. This reality is not the best, but it is
the DMZ is the most heavily fortified border in something that we can live with, and indeed, have
the world. Seoul is just a short distance away and been living with already.
well within striking distance of the majority of the
North’s arsenal. As a city with one of the highest In all future negotiations, I believe the goal
population densities in the world, Seoul would should be to appease the North so they halt their
suffer insurmountable casualties that neither the development and once again meet for talks.
American nor South Korean government wishes to Although many will argue that this strategy was
be held accountable for. unsuccessful in the past, I believe it holds much
more promise than the media’s impending war.
20 Bibimbap
d s
l l f o o
f a
W ith November now well underway, the
fall season is surely upon us, and with
the changing weather comes a host of other
changes, some long-awaited and others—if
perhaps equally anticipated—not welcomed quite
as eagerly. Indeed, with the refreshing Chuseok
break now behind us, it’s time to set our sights on
the even longer vacation period and to prepare
for the still longer winter season. Hopefully, even
in what will doubtlessly prove again to be a busy
time of year, we can still take the time to pause
and enjoy the colorful scenes that sweep through
Korea with all the crisp brilliance of fall. For me,
this means taking the time to stroll along the
streets or among the stalls of Korea’s traditional
markets and to absorb the sights and smells of all
the fresh, seasonal fruits, vegetables, and treats
now at their peak.
THIS ISN’T GRANDMA’S FARM
And the figs pictured above probably aren’t
grandma’s figs, either. At least they’re nothing like
the figs I used to find at my grandmother’s farm
back in Georgia, for despite the fond memories I
have of plucking figs with my cousins in the lazy
heat of summer afternoons, I must admit that
the small brown ones we turned up do not even
begin to compare with the juicy reds I’ve been
FF
BY COLIN BISHO
buying market-side since the start of August.
Though perhaps more of a summer fruit, fresh
figs remained steadily available throughout all
of October and continue to be easy to find even
as I draft this in early November. Be that as it
may, I do imagine that the end of fig season is
quickly approaching and expect that most will be
gone by the time this article reaches publication.
But there’s always room for hope, and on the
off chance that a few straggling figs do remain
ripe for the picking when this piece makes it to
(digital) print (and if not, there’s always next
I can almost smell the fragrance! With vibrant colors
and a beautiful arrangement, these figs represent
the fruits I’ve been buying here in Korea since early
summer. Image freely sourced.
Fall 2017 21
it’s best to get an approximate count before
buying to ensure the greatest value. Indeed, while
smaller packages usually hold fifteen to twenty-
five or so figs, larger ones may have upwards of
thirty or forty crammed inside.
As these prices indicate, figs are without question
not the cheapest fruit available at this time of year
(this honor may, in fact, go to the next food on our
list), but they’re usually more than worth the price
to me. Plump, juicy, and at least double the size of
what I remember from back home, these make for
an instant (and quite nutritious!) snack or dessert.
I personally enjoy dipping them in a bit of coconut
year, when they’ll start appearing again at the oil or homemade nut/seed butter or adding them
start of summer), the best place to buy them will to oatmeal, but they’re also sweet and delicious
almost always be at traditional markets, where just as they are.
they’ll undoubtedly be both cheaper and fresher
than those on the supermarket shelves. (This will
be especially true on market days—or jangnal [
장날], usually every five days and a real event
even in small towns— when it’s much easier to
find good deals on seasonal products. Korea may
not be Thailand or Cambodia, but I’ve still found
that local suppliers are sometimes open to a bit
of friendly haggling—particularly from regular
customers—that I wouldn’t recommend trying on
the supermarket clerks.)
As far as price goes, the Styrofoam crates in which
Korean figs are almost invariably sold range from Fresh figs and homemade flax butter (just ground
three to ten thousand won, depending of course flax seed and coconut oil; mix in a blender, food
on the quantity and quality of the figs. (Very firm processor, or by hand) clumsily presented on my
green ones, for instance, will be noticeably cheaper lovely floor table. The figs alone are enough to
than the lush red ones, but those of the former sort satisfy cravings for a sweet dessert, but I like them
of course won’t be ready to eat right away. Those even better with a bit of creamy flax butter spread
in the picture below were excellently-priced at on top.
three thousand per crate—about forty-five figs
between the two batches I purchased). For ripe THAT FUNNY ORANGE FRUIT
figs, I’ve found that quality is fairly consistent and The next food we’ll look at is one that’s noticeably
have yet to buy a sour or spoiled batch. Quantity, cheaper than figs and, fortunately, is also here to
however, can be a bit trickier, and for this reason, stay—at least until the middle of April, or so. Vaguely
22 Bibimbap
Decoratively arranged, this freely-sourced image features a what looks to be a delicious persimmon of
the sweet variety. From the sliced fruit can be seen the contrast between the outer rind and inner flesh, as
well as the outlines of the small seeds. (Some sweet kinds are seedless, however).
round or acorn-shaped and in all likelihood now
crowding the trees around many of our schools
and towns, these funny-looking fruits might seem
a bit strange to new teachers in Korea. Fortunately,
I’ve learned that these orange delights really
aren’t funny at all and instead are quite delicious
and refreshing. And indeed, as we approach the
middle of what will be my third autumn spent in
Korea, the humble persimmon—or gam (감)—is
one of the things I find myself relishing most.
Though gam is probably a simple enough term
for most of us to incorporate into our everyday
vocabularies, we’ll still need a bit more educating in
order to decide which persimmons are the tastiest
(and safest) to eat. Of the three types of persimmon
I’ve learned to recognize in Korea (I think there may
be a couple more, but aside from the dried variety
which I won’t touch on here, these are the main
ones), the most common is the sweet variety, or
dan gam (with dan—단—meaning sweet). Though
these soften considerably given enough time,
persimmons of this sort are usually sold when still
quite crisp and firm. And though a little (though
not too much!) softening does, I think, improve
their taste, even fruits that at first seem rock-solid
tend to yield a pleasant, crunchy sweetness once
bitten into. Luckily, sweet persimmons should be
easy to spot even for first-time buyers, as their
distinctive shape and appearance—reminiscent
of squat, vaguely round tomatoes whose red
pigment has been exchanged for a carrot-like
orange—make them difficult to miss, as does their
practical ubiquity at this time of year: fruit sellers
Fall 2017 23
lining the streets or markets have already begun
offering huge basketfuls for as little as three to
five thousand won, and most of our schools are
probably already well-stocked. (At my school in
Jangseong County—a region moderately famous
for its persimmon production—teachers have
in fact begun picking them straight off the trees
overlooking our grounds.) Though probably not
as fresh as those on the street, persimmons sold
at the supermarket are likewise cheap during this
time of year and throughout the cooler months,
and though they do come in more manageable
quantities than the batches sold at markets,
they’re not as evenly-valued as what the locals
sell.
The second (and, as we’ll see, a bit more
challenging) kind of persimmon I’ve come across
is the astringent variety, or daebong gam (대봉
감). Though I haven’t bought any of this sort since
learning to distinguish among the different kinds,
persimmons of this sort—recognizable by their
larger size and markedly acorn shape—are also
rather cheap, though they tend to be sold in huge
quantities (as large as ten to fifteen kilograms,
priced at around a thousand won per unit). And
unlike those of the sweet variety—which are Beware the acorn shape! This astringent
good to eat both when soft and when firm—the persimmon will eventually ripen, but it’s best not to
astringent sort should only be eaten when quite eat until much softer.
ripe. Not only will they be practically inedible if not
solution, to be sure.)
allowed to ripen, but if eaten in excess (should, for
whatever reason, their bitterness not prove enough
The third and final variety of persimmon I’ll
of a deterrent to prevent their consumption), they
cover here is what the Korean’s call a honghsi (
may also lead to a buildup of solid material within
홍시), which is just a daebong gam that has been
the digestive tract that can potentially block the
left to ripen until it’s as swollen and (if I may be
intestines. Called bezoars, generally, (a term some
forgiven) “squishy” as an overfilled water balloon.
of us may have encountered in the first Harry
(According to my vice principal, this process takes
Potter novel—of course it was Potions class) and,
a couple of months.) Perhaps the most expensive
in the case of plant fibers, phytobezoars, these
of all the persimmon varieties if memory serves
are dangerous and may require surgical removal.
me correctly (these won’t appear in abundance
(I should add, however, that recent studies have
until deeper into the cold season), hongshi
shown that Coca-Cola may also be an effective
are just as sweet as dan gam and have a very
means of breaking up bezoars—a far less drastic
comparable flavor. The main difference, then, is
24 Bibimbap Fall 2017 25
not one of taste but rather of texture, as it is nearly
Though the English word chestnut seems to be
impossible to hold a hongshi in one’s hand without something of a misnomer—as, once free of their
its popping or bursting. Eating hongshi, then, can shells, chestnuts have more in common with savory
prove a bit tricky, as they don’t lend themselves root vegetables than with other nuts; I liken them to
well to proper table manners, and for me, trying firm yet still “creamy” potatoes—the Korean term
to sip the fruit from a spoon has proven only bam (밤; also meaning night or dark) is perhaps
moderately successful. I much prefer to eschew more suitable, at least as it refers to the glossy
any modicum of etiquette altogether and simply black of the nuts’ outer shells. And while we’re on
slurp the hongshi directly from a bowl as I might this subject, it’s important to note that deshelling
do with a bowl of noodles (or oatmeal…I don’t eat chestnuts by hand is a long, tedious process even
noodles very often). Indeed, if beaten a bit with a if the nuts are cooked first (and removing them
spoon and chopsticks, a hongshi might actually prior to cooking is more difficult still). And getting
pass as a beverage. rid of the shells is only half the challenge: once
they’re out of the way, there’s still a skin of coarse,
ROASTED IN A…RICE COOKER? bark-like skin to get through before the straw-
Like persimmons, our last autumn treat is one that colored hue of the nut meat finally appears.
first begins to appear again in the cooler months
and thus is surely a sign of the changing seasons. Fortunately, there’s an easier way to shell
Though I grew up imagining how nice it must be chestnuts that requires none of the effort and only
to smell this food “roasting on an open fire,” it was a fraction of the time (less than a minute) than the
only recently that I finally tried some for the first manual method. What this method does involve is
time. As the song implies, chestnuts are indeed a chestnut machine, which I’ve seen called both
quite comforting and delicious, and though I still bam kkanun gigye (밤 까는 기계; pictured at the
have yet to roast them over an open flame, I have end of this section) or bam talpigi (밤 탈피기), and
nevertheless found other tasty ways to enjoy them. while not every chestnut seller has one, they seem Chestnuts for sale at a street market in Unam-dong, Gwangju. In the back left is a chestnut peeler, while
common enough to make it likely that someone a roasting machine marks the front right. The two crates nestled among the nuts are the measuring
nearby will have a machine he/she is willing to implements, with large- and small-sized batches here costing seven and four thousand won, respectively.
Freshly-roasted chestnuts I purchased at a street
lend. (Again, this will be especially true at traditional Adjacent the chestnuts and priced at eight thousand won for a large crate is a bucket of jujubes (daechu,
market in Gwangju. With a natural sweetness and
markets: even if a particular seller doesn’t have a or 대추), sometimes called Chinese dates.
light crisp, these would make a great snack for any
machine him/herself, there’s doubtlessly another
occasion and came in at a modest three thousand or radio program, because peeling chestnuts combined chestnuts with apples, sweet potatoes,
seller within the same market who will be able to
won. requires ample time and lots of visual attention. and a cinnamon-ginger glaze. Sweet, tender, and
get the job done. Less common at markets are the
full of seasonal flavor, this experiment turned out
chestnut roasting machines [also pictured], which
As I’ve noted, chestnuts seem to be the misfits of much better than I expected, and though I didn’t
are capable of churning out large batches of
the nut family and, and though they truly are a kind take exact measurements, I’ve included a recipe
piping hot chestnuts on the spot—usually just a few
of tree nut, they lack the fatty crunch characteristic sketch at the end of this article.
thousand won for a reasonably-portioned bag.
of other nuts. Like figs and persimmons, however,
Freshly-roasted chestnuts likewise appear at the
chestnuts still make a nice fall-time snack even on As far as price is concerned, chestnuts are more
rest areas during longer bus voyages, with similar
their own (though not as crunchy as regular nuts, like figs than persimmons in that they’re not the
prices yet smaller portions than those at markets).
they’re still “munchable” enough), and due to cheapest snack to buy, but then again, they’re still
Should chestnut machines prove in short supply,
their root-like element, they also work well when far from the most expensive. At markets, chestnut
however, I recommend finding a solid pair of work
incorporated into sweet and savory dishes alike. vendors will usually measure the nuts using
gloves and settling down with a nice audiobook
I recently concocted a rice-cooker dish in which I wooden crates (full or half-sized; they use them
26 Bibimbap
like big scoops), weigh them, and then shell/peel
them in their machines if they have them. It’s good
to keep in mind that the shelled nuts will shrink
down a lot, so the net yield is much less than it
might initially appear to be. Once shelled, a large-
sized crate comes out to maybe three-quarters of
kilogram (usually seven to eight thousand won)
Fall 2017 27
of us will bring the comforting tastes and smells of
home. Assorted hangwa, or Korean confectionary,
likewise seem since Chuseok to have taken a more
central role on the market scene, and I recommend
that anyone interested in traditional desserts take
a look at the previous edition of Bibibimbap, where
I wrote about traditional cookies, rice snacks, and

BABSOT BITES: APPLE-ROASTED

and a smaller one to roughly half that (three to more.
five thousand won).
. The orange glow of autumn is surely with us now,
FINAL THOUGHTS but it won’t be long until it pales into winter’s gray.
This is but a small sample of all the many seasonal This time of year is short but very sweet, and we
foods that the fall season graces us with in Korea, should all find ways to soak it in before the long,
and I strongly encourage anyone with even dreary cold months really settle in. For me, this ROOTS AND CHESTNUTS WITH
CINNAMON-GINGER GLAZE
passing interest to visit a traditional market on means taking a walk through the brisk cool of the
a free afternoon or weekend. In addition to the market stalls, absorbing all the sights, sounds,
examples detailed above, other fresh foods like and smells of local suppliers and their wares. I
apples, sweet potatoes, and assorted pumpkins recommend that others do the same.
and squashes are also easy to find and for many
By yours truly, courtesy of my very own Klumsy apples and sweet potatoes to rice cooker and mix
Kitchen thoroughly with a spoon. Set aside.

INGREDIENTS 3. For the “glaze”: Combine the cinnamon,

ginger, salt, and coconut oil in a small, heat-safe
~ 3/4 kg (just over 1.5 lbs.) of raw chestnuts, shells bowl (a skillet will work, too, but its large surface
and skins removed, whole nut meats intact if area may cause the mixture to burn or evaporate).
possible Stir over low heat until coconut oil is melted, mixing
~1 kg (about 2 lbs.) raw sweet potatoes, washed, well to break up any cinnamon or ginger clumps.
peeled, and chopped
2 large apples (~2 heaping cups), rinsed and 4. Pour the glaze over the chestnuts, etc., and
chopped (peeled if desired) stir well to ensure an even coating.
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger (ideally 100%, though many 5. “Roast” mixture on the rice cooker’s
Korean brands will be diluted with corn starch) standard setting until tender enough to pierce
¼-½ tsp coarse salt easily with a fork (may take 2-3 cycles, depending
Generous scoop of coconut oil on desired softness; ideally, the apples and sweet
Also taken along the street in Gwangju, this image is of a typical fruit vendor’s “shop.” Sweet potatoes, figs, potatoes should “melt” into the glaze).
tomatoes, apples, Asian pears, sweet persimmons, Chinese quince (large yellow fruits on the far right; DIRECTIONS
these are not for eating raw, though they can be used to make jam or tea; this latter—mogwa cha, or 6. Serve hot or cold; alone or with sweet or
모과차—is common at traditional tea houses), bananas (not pictured), and assorted citrus fruits are all 1. Check chestnuts over to make sure all large savory accompaniments (e.g., banana smoothie,
available here. The main seller here recognizes me on sight as a regular customer and usually greets pieces of skin and shell have been removed. fresh figs, and flax butter)
me with the day’s sales. 2. Add chestnuts and chopped/peeled
28 Bibimbap Fall 2017 29

Jo Recommends
http://item2.gmarket.co.kr/English/detailview/
item.aspx?goodscode=562256701

Coffee Holic
When I first came to Korea finding
reasonably priced whole bean or
freshly ground coffee was very
difficult. I still remember the
price shock I experienced
when I saw a 300 gram
bag of ground coffee
for 30,000 won. (And
even more so at Lotte
Department store).
NTURE
N
VE
AN AD
E
FOR
H O
Eventually I got

C
OUT
GO
M
GA L T U R E
adventurous and dove
into the world of Korean
online shopping and came

C UL L A G E
across this wonderful, freshly
custom ground-to-order coffee

VI
brand.

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