Food Culture in Traditional Korea

Through art and discussion, students explore the history of food in premodern Korea, reflecting on its social, cultural, and even political implications.

I created a comic strip on the history of soju because this topic had truly piqued my interest. The comic strip highlights information drawn from the book Soju: A Global History (Cambridge University Press, 2021) by Hyunhee Park. While it was definitely a challenge to condense the vast amount of information in the book, I aimed to convey the main takeaways. One of the key takeaways is how soju…
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These panels are an interpretation of the life of Yi Pinghogak (1759-1824). She was the author of one of the first extant cookbooks in Korea, contributing to women’s literacy and expanding women’s role in society. The influence of Yi’s family and upbringing will be discussed as a significant…
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This podcast discusses the role and status of women during the Choson era. It covers the academic article, "Priests, Entertainers, or Prostitutes: The three roles of the Female Performers (Sadang) in Chosun Korea" by Kim Sung Soon (translated by Ksenia Chizhova) and Encyclopedia of Everyday Life: A Woman's Guide to Living in Late-Chosŏn Korea, which is a translation of Kyuhap ch'ongsŏ (The…
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The Chosŏn dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910, observed Confucian values and principles. Its establishment marked a period of cultural reform, establishing traditions and ideologies that can still be seen in Korea today. This regime’s new vision of Korean society limited the role of Chosŏn women; even so, women were still able to contribute to society on a cultural and intellectual…
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