KICK ASS KOREA reason 14 I don’t know if you’ve heard about Budae Jjigae, but it’s one meal that not only kicks ass because of the taste but also because of its history. Out of the hardship and desperate times emerged a unique dish that stirs memories of the past as well as satisfy the taste buds.Budae Jjigae, known as army stew, originated after the Korean War. During those times poverty was the norm and the only way for the poor to scrap together a meal was to take the scraps left by the American soldiers at the army base. Out of the strife came Budae Jjigae. The traditional ingredients of red chili paste and kimchi were added to items gleaned from the base such as canned ham, spam, and hot dogs.Today the dish serves as a reminder of the past as well as a look towards the future. New ingredients such as mushrooms, beef, sausage, ramen, garlic, onions and a host of others has recast Budae Jjigae into a modern dish. It’s hearty and flavorful and spicy goodness.Don’t take my word for it, go out and get a bowl now!

Situated in the affluent neighborhood of Gangnam-gu the Bongeunsa Temple is a resplendent oasis of peace in the steel jungle of Seoul. The temple first rose way back in 794 by the monk Yeon-hoe under the name of Kyongseoungsa. The temple stands on the side of Sudo Mountain just across from the COEX shopping plaza.

Need a tat? I’ve got the place for you. Fear not, just because you’re not back at home doesn’t mean there aren’t some kick-ass spots to get some ink. Korea may be all conservative and straight-laced on the surface, but once you dig a little deeper you’ll find those outside the mainstream thriving in Seoul. Just take a look at the folks at Tattoo Korea.

This past weekend the world DJ festival hit Seoul for it’s fourth birthday! I’d missed last year’s bash so I was even more excited to attend this time around. The event brings DJ and musical acts from around the world to perform. For 2010 included Freemasons, Dirty Disco Youth, Fantastic Plastic Machine, Shut Da Mouth, Planet Shiver, Soul Dive and dozens of others.