The Globalization of Korean Barbecue in America
Korean barbecue, also known as KBBQ, was first created and seen decades ago in Korea. It rose to popularity around the 1990s and then made its way to other countries, including America. Its cultural values of sharing, caring for others, and equality are what contributed to its popularity over the years and intrigued people into trying it. These values and the overall idea of collectivism that Korean barbecue brings are what has helped translate it and its meaning well to America, my home country. This tells us that the globalization of culture is extremely important and necessary to achieve because it provides the opportunity to be able to participate in new experiences, values, and traditions, which I believe is what makes people whole.
I believe that the idea of collectivism, a value that emphasizes and prioritizes the group over the self, that is represented in Korean barbecue is one of the main reasons why it is so popular in countries other than Korea such as America. People love the idea of being able to participate in some sort of activity as a group, especially one that involves food. Being at a big table filled with good food that you share with your friends and family is a favorite place to be for many. It is a bonding experience set in a sociable environment that brings people closer together through food and good memories. Writer Jinsoo Hwang mentions the same thing in their article titled Exploration of the successful glocalization of ethnic food: a case of Korean food, where he states that “the “sociocultural” factor was found to positively influence customer satisfaction and Korea’s image” (Hwang). This is true as it is what contributed to the increased level of popularity of KBBQ. By extension, everybody is equal in this setting, cooking and working together to make and enjoy a nice, cohesive meal. By this, I mean that nobody is less important than anybody, nor are they more important than others (Hwang). This is the part that really emphasizes this idea of collectivism because it shows how the individualism of each person at the table is not as important as the group as a whole, as they have to work together to cook the food and socialize while they eat. In other words, the group in Korean barbecue is more significant than the individuals at the table. I feel like many people like this idea as it brings them comfort and ease from the nonexistent need to compare themselves to others in this environment. Everybody at the table is there for the same thing, which is enjoying good food with good people and simply nothing more. This represents the cultural value of equality that is represented in Korean barbecue, which is a more specific reason for its popularity in Korea, America, and other countries. This tells us again that the globalization of culture is important and necessary because the gradual globalization of Korean barbecue has shone light on significant factors such as equality, which is a good thing.
However, some may say that the original cultural values and idea of collectivism does not actually matter in America. They say that it is popular here and in other countries that have been introduced to Korean barbecue due to the aesthetic and trend of the food that this event brings. This means that it does not really translate well to America as the majority of people do not get the main message and meaning behind it. This same idea can be seen a lot through the event of the “Korean Wave” in the 1990s, where there was a sudden increase in the awareness of South Korean culture through not just food, but other factors as well such as film, television, makeup, and more. Eun-Young Jung says in their article, which critically assesses the Korean Wave in Asia and the United States, that many of the Americans who are attracted to Korean pop culture mainly talk about “the physical attractiveness of the Korean actors and actresses and their modern and glamorous fashion, make-up, and hairstyles” (Jung). This idea of focusing on what is on the outside here is similarly applied to the previously mentioned idea of how not all Americans are attracted to Korean barbecue solely based on its cultural values and deeper meanings. Just like how some Americans are not attracted to the beauty and meaning behind the actual television shows, but the physical beauty of the faces in the shows, Americans can be mainly attracted to Korean barbecue because of how amazing kimchi looks next to Ddeokbokki, Korean stir-fried rice cakes, for example, rather than be attracted to it because they strongly admire the deeper meanings embedded into the activity. With this side of the argument, we can see how maybe the globalization of culture does not always make that much of a difference in terms of cultural values, at least not for everyone. That being said, this leads to the question of whether or not the globalization of culture is necessary as there will always be people who don’t look deeply into the meanings behind cultural factors.
People will argue back from this and think completely differently. What about the other factors that make Korean barbecue so admired by many and can still be analyzed on a deeper level of understanding and meaning, like the fact that you get to cook your own food? What does that signify? Cooking for your loved ones at the table and getting to prepare the food the way you want with hundreds of different combinations excites people and gives them a sense of freedom, which can tie into the equality factor of it and the comfort it brings. This part of Korean barbecue is what represents the cultural value of caring for others, which is a big thing in Korea. In Korea, people tend to care more about others than themselves compared to citizens here in America. To put it more plainly, they are known to be more global citizens than Americans because it is embedded in their culture to look after others. This is one of the main reasons Korean barbecue rose to popularity as well, as people like the idea of getting to cook your own meat and grill your own vegetables when eating out since it is a different and interesting experience to remember. The endless opportunities that this brings attracts people, which is why I believe it became so popular so quickly when it first arrived to the United States from Korea. John Surico, writer, seems to agree, as he says that these endless opportunities have “paved a way for people to understand and embrace the true Korean cuisine, and what it’s really about” and that “it’s all about education and getting people excited” (Surico). This excitement that is brought to people shows us that the globalization of different cultures is a blessing as it brings new and unforgettable experiences to many. There is nothing quite like KBBQ that was already here in the United States before its first appearance, other than regular buffets which are not as fun since all of the food is already prepared and sits there for a while before you even get to put some on your plate. Without the globalization of Korean barbecue and its cultural aspects, we Americans would have never been able to experience these feelings of joy and freedom when going out to eat with friends and family.
Others also say that not only is the caring for others aspect one of the main factors in attracting people towards Korean barbecue, but so is the fact that for most people, cooking your own food brings you more satisfaction when eating it because you work harder to get to it. You actually make it yourself instead of having it being brought to you already fully cooked and prepared, which is also a part of the fun. You make it how you want it and how others at the table want it, again referencing back to the freedom that Korean barbecue gives its consumers. Being able to cook your own food when eating out also tricks people into thinking that there is more food on the table than there actually is, as everything takes time to fully cook and rest before being fully ready to eat. This idea of KBBQ psychologically tricking its consumers is elaborated further by Kara Lydon, registered dietician and blogger, who states that “Satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) plays a large role in our relationship with food” (Lydon). This ties into how the satisfaction of Korean barbecue greatly contributed to its rise in popularity in America, as the whole reason we eat and enjoy food is the satisfaction we gain from it. The nutrients that we all need satisfy our body and our needs when we get them through consuming food. She also states that if you pause right before eating and think about what you want, your satisfaction eating that meal will be significantly higher (Lydon). This is the same idea as when pausing before starting to cook on the grill at a Korean barbecue because you have to think about what you want to make and eat first, increasing your satisfaction when finally eating the meal you made for yourself. As a result of all of this, the popularity of KBBQ rises even more, leading us even more in the right direction of making the assumption that the globalization of culture is necessary and important as it is able to bring many new opportunities and experiences to people all around the world, no matter where they are from.
In conclusion, Korean barbecue has definitely translated well to America as well as many other different countries. This well executed translation through the cultural values of equality, sharing, and caring for others as well as other factors such as satisfaction and collectivism has shown us over time that the globalization of different cultures is important and necessary in order to live life to the fullest with the best possible experiences, values, traditions, and memories. Sharing a part of every culture with another is so beautiful and such a blessing to be able to have, so we must appreciate the culturally different factors that we have access to in our home country as you never know what they might contribute to your life and what they can bring to the table.
