Why Are Koreans Obsessed with Spicy Food?

One of the biggest culture shocks foreign visitors experience in Korea is Koreans' love for spicy food! From the Fire Noodle Challenge to gochujang (red pepper paste) and kimchi, where does this Korean obsession with spicy flavors come from?

1. The History and Cultural Background of Spicy Food

In fact, Korea's relationship with spicy flavors isn't that ancient. Red peppers were first introduced to Korea during the mid-Joseon Dynasty, around the 16th century. There are theories that they arrived through Japan after the Imjin War or were brought by Portuguese merchants, but the exact introduction route is still debated in academic circles.

However, after red peppers arrived, they quickly spread to various foods including kimchi, establishing today's spicy food culture. In particular, red peppers played a significant role in enhancing the color, taste, and preservation of kimchi, Korea's representative fermented food.

Why did Koreans become so enthusiastic about spicy tastes?

• Stress Relief: When we taste spicy food, our bodies release endorphins. These act as natural painkillers and create a good mood. That's why many people in our stressful modern society tend to seek out spicy foods.

• Climate Factors: Korea has hot and humid summers. Eating spicy food makes you sweat, which helps lower body temperature. Traditionally, spicy cuisines have developed in many hot regions around the world.

• Food Preservation: Capsaicin in peppers acts as a natural preservative. Before refrigeration technology, adding spicy peppers could extend the shelf life of foods.

• Taste Stimulation: Spicy flavors stimulate the tongue's sensations and enhance appetite. Especially in hot summer, sweating while eating spicy food can actually give you a refreshing feeling.

• Community Culture: Korean dining culture often includes spicy food challenges. Challenging menus like spicy tteokbokki (rice cakes) or fire noodles often become topics of conversation. This reflects Korea's unique "ppalli-ppalli" (hurry-hurry) culture and spirit of challenge.

2. Representative Korean Spicy Foods

• Buldak Bokkeum Myeon (Fire Chicken Noodles): Known as the "noodles of death" among foreign YouTubers, these have become popular as spicy challenge content. Since their development in Korea, they've raised the spiciness scale and now come in various levels of heat. There's even an extreme version called "Hek-karam."

• Spicy Tteokbokki: A street food champion! Starting from traditional gochujang-based tteokbokki, it has evolved with various sauces and toppings like cream, black bean, and rosé. Spiciness levels are differentiated so you can choose according to your spice tolerance.

• Cheongyang Peppers: The most popular spicy pepper in Korea, frequently used in cooking. An essential ingredient for adding heat to dishes.

• Spicy Jjimdak (Braised Chicken): This dish, with its coexistence of sweet and spicy flavors, is popular among foreigners too. It features a characteristic harmony of peppers and soy sauce.

• Nakji Bokkeum (Stir-fried Octopus): This dish of fresh octopus stir-fried with spicy seasoning is a representative Korean spicy seafood dish. It's known for the harmony between its chewy texture and spicy flavor.

• Kimchi: Korea's representative fermented food comes in various types, but most use red pepper powder for spiciness. Kimchi is not just a side dish but has become a symbol of Korean food culture.

3. The Science Behind Spicy Flavor

The protagonist of spiciness is a compound called capsaicin. This substance, found in peppers, stimulates pain-detecting nerve receptors (TRPV1). Interestingly, capsaicin doesn't actually burn your tongue, but the brain interprets it as 'pain' similar to a burn.

When we feel this pain, our bodies release endorphins as a defense mechanism. Endorphins act as natural painkillers and provide a temporary feeling of happiness. This is the cause of the addictive good feeling you experience after eating spicy food.

4. Foreigners' Reactions to Spicy Korean Food

Foreigners who try spicy Korean food typically show two kinds of reactions. One is getting addicted to the addictive spiciness, and the other is avoiding the challenge because it's too spicy. Spicy food challenge videos by foreign YouTubers often record millions of views!

Korean spiciness in particular is often not just spicy but balanced with umami flavors, offering foreigners a unique experience. For this reason, Korean spicy products like fire noodles and spicy ramen are exported globally and gaining popularity.

Recently, the "Korean Spicy Food Challenge" has become a cultural content of its own and one of the bucket list items foreign tourists want to experience when visiting Korea.

5. Misconceptions and Truths About Spicy Flavor

• Spiciness is not a 'taste'? In fact, spiciness is closer to 'pain' as it stimulates pain on the tongue. Therefore, people who can eat spicy food well tend to have high tolerance for pain. Spiciness is not a basic taste like sweetness, saltiness, sourness, or bitterness, but closer to a 'chemical stimulation.'

• Spicy food is bad for your health? Moderate spiciness can activate metabolism and generate heat in the body, which can help with dieting! Capsaicin has antioxidant effects that are good for cardiovascular health. However, excessive consumption of spicy food can cause stomach problems, so it's best to enjoy in moderation.

• Spice tolerance is innate? While there are genetic factors in spice tolerance, it's mostly formed by environment and habits. People who have been exposed to spicy food from a young age tend to have higher tolerance. However, anyone can build spice tolerance through practice.

6. Spicy Food Trends in Modern Korean Society

Recently in Korea, an 'extreme spiciness' trend testing the limits of spicy flavors has become popular. After the success of fire noodles, various food companies are developing even spicier products, and 'spicy challenges' continue to gain popularity on social media.

Fusion cuisine combining spiciness with other flavors is also popular. Spicy chicken, spicy pizza, and even spicy ice cream! This shows the creativity and experimental spirit of Korean food culture.

The Korean obsession with spicy food means more than just 'taste.' It relieves stress, serves as a means of communication, and has established itself as part of Korean culture! If you visit Korea, trying a 'spicy food challenge' could be an interesting experience!