Indeed, many people believe that Kentucky Fried Chicken first popularized the meal upon its arrival in Korea in 1984. However, fried chicken actually appears in documents as early as 1392, when it was eaten by Korean kings. Similarly, even though American brands such as Domino’s and Pizza Hut first introduced pizza to Koreans in the 1980s, Korean 피자 (pija) now features flavors unique to the Korean peninsula and its people. Nowhere else in the world will you find pizza seasoned with 고추장 (gochujang), the pepper-based spice that appears in almost all Korean meals. Would you want to try it, too?
