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Summarized by durumis AI
- KBS1's documentary "Samgyeopsal Rhapsody" explores the history and cultural significance of samgyeopsal, a representative Korean food, revealing how it surpassed rice to become a staple food.
- The increased pork consumption following the economic development of the 1970s and the rising incomes of the mid-1980s contributed to the popularization of samgyeopsal. The emergence of portable butane gas burners significantly influenced the spread of samgyeopsal culture.
- While showcasing the diverse aspects of samgyeopsal culture, the documentary also addresses the problems associated with the concentrated consumption of samgyeopsal and emphasizes the need for raising awareness to promote balanced pork consumption.
KBS1 Documentary Insight: Pork Belly Rhapsody
After pork surpassed rice as the undisputed staple food in Korea in 2016, pork belly has become the most beloved cut of meat among Koreans. This documentary, 'Pork Belly Rhapsody', vividly shows how pork belly has become a symbol of Korean food culture.
A scene from "Samgyeopsal Rhapsody": Source - Netflix
The rise of pork over rice, which had been the staple food of Koreans for thousands of years, can be attributed to factors such as the increase in pork consumption following economic development in the 1970s, and the popularization of pork belly in the mid-1980s as incomes rose. The advent of portable butane gas burners made it possible to grill pork belly anywhere, leading to an explosive spread of pork belly culture.
The documentary also introduces the unique pork belly grilling cultures of different regions. The Honam region has a long tradition of grilling pork belly in various ways, such as 'makgui' (simple grilling) and charcoal grilling. In recent years, techniques such as aging and dry-aging have been used to enhance the flavor of pork belly even further.
However, the concentrated consumption of pork belly has led to the underutilization of other cuts. The documentary points out the need for balanced use of all the cuts from a pig and emphasizes the need for consumer awareness and efforts in this regard.
'Pork Belly Rhapsody' goes beyond simply introducing pork belly. It explores the history and significance of pork belly culture, which has shared joys and sorrows with Korean society, and offers a vision for the future.
YouTube trailer
The film vividly conveys the sentiment and way of life of Koreans through the story of pork belly, a representative of Korean food culture. It is also noteworthy that it was the first Korean food culture documentary to be released on Netflix, bringing Korean food culture to the world.
'Pork Belly Rhapsody' re-examines the role of pork belly, which has been at the heart of Korean food culture as it evolved alongside economic development. It carries more than just documentary value and meaning. It is a film that reminds us that to truly understand Korean society and culture, one must understand pork belly.
