Food: BLACK pigs and staring fish heads

Every province in Korea boasts about their cuisine, and Jeju is no different. One of the biggest tourist (traps) is the so-called "Black pork" ~ Heukdoaeji Bulgogi (흑돼지불고기).

Honestly? Nothing special. But its worth a try, since I have not seen it much outside of Jeju just yet... or rather, I haven't looked all that hard.

Basically what it is, is a sun tanned pig ~ Black skin on the outside, same pink meat with the same taste on the inside. Best analogy: Opposite of Michael Jackson... bleached outside, black inside.

Was disappointed, because I was hoping it'd be like the black chickens back home ~ even the meat is dark!


Another dish would be fish head soup ~ Maeuntang (매운탕). The soup base is similar, but somewhat different to the Malaysian fish head curry. Spicy, but uses less condiments.

I guess if you were desperate enough for fish head (I was!), it'd be a pretty decent substitute... Mine even had the eyeball and everything staring back at me. *Evil laugh...

Other kinds of seafood that are typical of Jeju such as:

• Squid ~ Ojingeo (오징어),
• Hairtail fish ~ Kalchi (갈치)
• Mackerel ~ Godongeo (고등어)

Preparations differ, but typically, they can be:

• Boiled in soy bean sauce ~ Jorim (조림)
• Grilled on a hotplate ~ Gu-i (구이)
• Soup-based ~ Guk (국) or Tang (탕)
• Casseroled ~ Jeongol (전골)
• Barbeque ~ Bulgogi (불고기)
• Raw ~ Hoei (회).

Note: 1,000 won ~ USD$1.00

Did I try all of them while in Jeju? No...

Well, there are some dishes that I can find in Suncheon, where I live. Prices here are lower, compared to the tourist prices you'd pay in Jeju. So I guess I'll save my two cents for a rainy day.

Anyway, I only have one stomach and I was there for only 3 days!