K-Food Takes Center Stage: From Kimchi to Global Snacks

TV personality Kang Ji-young recently revealed some amusing anecdotes about her senior colleague, Jang Sung-kyu, who is six years her senior.

On the October 6th episode of T-Cast's E Channel show 'From One to Ten,' hosts Jang Sung-kyu and Kang Ji-young delved into the topic of K-Food, which has taken the world by storm.

The duo crowned kimchi as the number one K-Food. Kang Ji-young stated, "Kimchi is obviously number one. It's an identity," to which Jang Sung-kyu agreed, saying, "There's no doubt about kimchi." Samgyeopsal (pork belly) and soju, considered soul food for Koreans, took the second and fourth spots, respectively.

To persuade Kang Ji-young, Jang Sung-kyu reminisced about their past, asking, "Didn't we have any drinking memories?" Kang Ji-young humorously exposed, "We only drank during group dinners. You were always drunk," eliciting laughter. The third spot went to 'chimaek' (chicken and beer), which gained international fame through dramas like 'My Love from the Star' and 'Crash Landing on You,' conquering Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Kimbap, ranked fifth, became a rising K-Food star in 2025, thanks to the 2.2-second eating scene by Lumi in the global hit 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' sparking a social media challenge.

The spicy instant noodles, known as 'Buldak,' have become a sensation, with global stars like Cardi B endorsing them, leading to the coining of the term 'Buldak Myth' and a 16-fold increase in stock value. Additionally, Bibigo dumplings made history by becoming the first single food item to surpass 1 trillion won in annual sales, with former President Trump's granddaughter, Kai Trump, praising them as "excellent," adding to their fame.

Meanwhile, BLACKPINK's Jennie gave a shoutout to a Korean snack, causing its company's market value to temporarily rise by 264 billion won. Honey rice cereal, dubbed Korea's bubble tea, has taken over social media, and GD's favorite yakgwa has also made an appearance, targeting the global MZ generation's snack preferences. When seafood pancake was mentioned, Kang Ji-young commented, "Do you know pajeon? It's a bit weak," while Jang Sung-kyu added, "For pajeon to make it into the top five, Lumi needs to give it a shoutout in 'K-Pop Demon Hunters 2.'"

Reporter: Se-yoon Jung, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr