The Representation of Korean Food Culture: A Case Study of the Drama “Let’s Eat Season 1”

Abstract

This study aims to examine (1) the representation of Korean food culture in the TV series Let’s Eat Season 1, and (2) analyzes the construction of representations of Korean food culture in Let’s Eat Season 1, utilizing content analysis, with a focus on 26 food-related scenes related to Korean food culture. The data were collected from all 16 episodes of Let’s Eat Season 1, which aired on South Korea’s tvN channel in 2013, and were accessed through the MONOMAX streaming platform. The analysis explores both the representations and the narrative techniques employed to convey Korean food culture.

The findings reveal six types of cultural representations of Korean food:

1) The culture of eating alone (honbap), 2) traditional Korean food culture, 3) collectivist values, 4) traditional Korean beliefs, 5) the fusion of Korean and foreign food cultures, and 6) health-oriented eating culture.

These representations aim to help viewers understand not only Korean eating habits but also the underlying notions of Korean identity reflected in the series.

Furthermore, the study identifies six modes of representation used to express Korean food culture: 1) tone of voice, 2) facial expressions, 3) character behavior, 4) background music, 5) camera angles, and 6) symbolic elements.

These techniques serve to evoke emotional engagement among viewers, using food as a medium of communication for relationships, memories, and emotions among characters. Ultimately, food functions as a cultural symbol that conveys values, meanings, and the identity of contemporary Korean society.