Anyone eat this stuff? I can’t stand the sight of it let alone taste. 
The South Korean government chose it as one of the country’s top 100 “Korean Cultural Symbols.” The cost of jjajangmyun (pronounced ja-jee-young-mee-un) is considered a significant economic indicator in South Korea, like the price of a gallon of milk in the U.S.
The noodles have been the subject of Korean pop music, appeared in the plots of cartoons, television shows and movies, and have been the object of personal obsession. A Korean man is famous for having eaten nothing but jjajangmyun for five years. Korea’s version of Valentine’s Day also sets aside a separate holiday for singles, called Black Day, when those without sweethearts traditionally console themselves by eating a bowl of jjajangmyun.
Kimchee might be the food most widely associated with Korea, but jjajangmyun is the country’s true comfort food. A meal in itself, it needs no accompaniment. Made with wheat noodles, covered in a sauce of pork, vegetables and the black bean paste that gives it its color, jjajangmyun is one of the first foods a Korean child learns to love.
09/02/2010 at 2:24 pm Permalink
Mark,
How could you say that? I grew up eating Jjajangmyun. Its like you telling American audience that you do not like pizza or hamburgers. My favorite is Spicy Seafood Kan Jjajangmyun with egg over easy on top. During my deployment, this is the only dish that I have craving for. I hope this is the only Korean (or Koreanized Chinese) food that you don’t like.
10/03/2010 at 10:36 pm Permalink
Sorry, MAJ K…I was a bit crass in that remark.