Ever since Lee Jae-myung clinched the presidency just a few days ago, I’ve been walking on air. Each morning, I wake with a smile, the sky above Seoul somehow bluer and higher, the air remarkably fresh, almost as if the city itself is breathing a sigh of relief. I catch myself grinning even while waiting for the bus or simply glancing down at a pebble on the street. These days, everything feels lighter.
True to form, our new workaholic president has accomplished more in three days than his predecessor—a Trumpian, misogynistic, and woefully inept buffoon—managed in three years. That’s not just my own hyperbole; even the media echo this sentiment.
This wave of celebration has seeped into my evenings as well. I’ve been indulging in a drink or two each night, not to excess but enough to savor the sweetness of this rare victory longer. To my American friends: if you can’t quite grasp my euphoria, imagine Trump being ousted next week. You’d feel like you could fly, and that’s exactly my state of mind.
My drinking companions are fellow middle-aged souls, so soju and makgeolli are our usual choices. If you ever find yourself in Korea—perhaps for FESTA or another occasion—do try my favorite brand, 느린 마을 (Neu-lin Mah-eul, meaning “Sleepy Village”), a makgeolli made purely from rice and yeast, without added sugar or preservatives. It’s delicious, sweet, and yogurt-like, teeming with good-for-you gut bacteria. It gives you that good feeling only alcohol can, while also being good for your body.
It’s Friday here in Korea again, and I plan to spend the night with some cold American IPA and catch up on all the dramas I’ve missed on Netflix this week, especially Good Boy, starring Park Bo-gum, and Tastefully Yours.
Two dramas that have captured my attention lately are Our Unwritten Seoul, which I wrote about last week, and Tastefully Yours. Each is entirely different in subject and tone. Tastefully Yours is a witty, delightfully absurd comedy about food and relationships, starring Go Min-si—perhaps the most beautiful woman in Korea—and Kang Ha-neul, one of my favorite actors, a true master of slapstick, like a modern-day Cary Grant. Moreover, I have a particular fondness for any drama or film centered around food.
Wherever you are, I hope your weekend is as bright and hopeful as mine. Cheers!