Thanksgiving is going to look a little different this year for many Americans. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be fewer large family gatherings and more virtual get-togethers, where everyone “eats” together, but apart. Sort of like our own personal mukbangs (which literally translates into eating during a broadcast).
While this isn’t an ideal situation for anyone, we can all try to make the best of it by preparing delicious meals, appreciating our families from afar and watching our favorite television shows. For some, that might be cheering on favorite football teams. For others (ahem, me), it means relaxing with as much K-entertainment as possible.
“Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok-Joo“
If there’s one day of the year when you can indulge in overeating, it’s Thanksgiving. But for the “Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok-Joo,” every day is like a holiday when it comes to meal time. One thingI love about this K-drama is that the girls know it’s frowned upon for young women to eat as much as they do, but they do it anyway. They eat so they have the stamina to excel in their sport (weightlifting), but also because they derive genuine pleasure from sharing delicious meals with one another. This Thanksgiving, give thanks for food and its nutritious value!
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“Wok of Love“
Turkey with mashed potatoes and all the fixings is a delicious treat to look forward to during the Thanksgiving holiday celebrated in the U.S. Many Korean-Americans supplement this traditional Thanksgiving meal with food our families grew up with, like japchae (glass noodles), pajeon (green onion pancakes) and, of course, kimchi. I swear, though, after watching the cast of “Wok of Love” dig into heaping bowls of jajangmyeon (noodles in a savory black bean sauce), it makes me want to add this dish on our menu this year.
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“Kkondae Intern“
I’ve always said that no one makes food look more delicious than Korean actors in K-dramas. Case in point: Everything Han Ji Eun woofs down in “Kkondae Intern” looks mouth-watering land yummy. This series really gets across how important food is in Korean culture. Obviously, we all need to eat to survive, but sharing a meal is a great way to show how much you care about one another. Though hoesik (after-work get-togethers between colleagues) can be a burden on some, its intent is to build morale and bolster team spirits by going out for dinner and drinks as a group.
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“Big“
There’s something about choosing your own fresh ingredients and then transforming them into your favorite dishes that makes mealtime feel like an accomplishment. There are so many great K-drama shopping scenes, but one of my favorites is when Lee Min-Jung and Gong Yoo make a trip to the supermarket in “Big.” I enjoy this scene so much because Gong Yoo is playing the role of a teenager stuck in a grown man’s body. He ends up helping turn a mundane chore into a fun event.
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“VIP“
Since 1952, Black Friday — or the day after Thanksgiving — has signaled the start of Christmas shopping. It’s a day when many bargain hunters wake up early and head to their favorite stores to try to nab a discounted item or two. While there are very few bargains to be found at the fictional luxury store in “VIP,” this scene resonates with those of us who have been judged as ‘undesirable customers,’ simply because we don’t appear wealthy. If there’s a plus side to this pandemic (work with me here! I’m trying to make the best of this!), it’s that we can do almost all our holiday shopping at home, while eating leftover pumpkin pie.
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