Did you know in Korea people share their food when eating? Communal meals are a common type of meal in Korea. Korean people like to share meals because it makes them feel close and connected to each other.
The meal I had was called Banchan. Banchan are small side dishes such as kimchi (fermented cabbage), vegetables, fish, and savory pancakes. You've probably heard sharing is caring, right? Well, Koreans take sharing very seriously. The banchan are usually placed in the center of the table because you are meant to share the food with everyone at the table. You also share the main dish, which in this meal was bulgogi (thinly sliced beef marinated in sauce). While the main and side dishes are shared, you get your own rice and soup.
At first, it can feel a little odd to eat from the same dishes as others, but when you share, you start to feel closer to the people you are eating with. You start asking them, "Do you like this dish?" or "How does it taste?" or "Wow! This is really good, you should try it." It made me happy when I ate a dish that tasted really good, and instead of being the only one who knew how good it tasted, other people could try and eat the same dish too!
