I came up with an excellent recommendation for people interested in Korean culture and food. Located very close to the bull statue in Kadıköy, Sopung serves as a meeting point for people interested in Korean culture in Istanbul. The owner of this place, where you can experience many Korean flavors, came to Turkey in 2015. Mr. WON, who saw the interest of Turks in Korean cuisine and decided to open this restaurant, also thought that it would be an excellent idea to open this place, since there were not many vine cuisine restaurants in Turkey at that time.
When we asked why Turkey, Mr. WON gave a very sweet answer that would warm our hearts. “I decided to do business and live in Turkey because I felt close to Turkish Culture and people. I also had an interest in Turkey because we saw it as our brother country due to its assistance in the Korean War. Combining these two cultures makes me very happy.”
We also asked about the differences between original Korean dishes and Korean dishes made in Turkey. They said that they usually make the products they use to cook their own meals, but that they buy the products they cannot make themselves from places selling Asian products or bring them from abroad. Since it is difficult to find exactly the same products, the dishes they prepare tend to be more Turkish-style Korean dishes.
When we visited, we saw that there was a lot of interest in the restaurant and we asked Mr. WON what he thought was the reason for this, and he told us that the restaurant attracted so much attention thanks to people who are interested in Korean cuisine and culture. People who are interested in this culture seem to like the Korean writings, posters of Korean dramas and constantly playing Korean songs in the interior decoration of the place.
This place, which is visited frequently not only by Turks but also by Koreans who come to visit Turkey, is also highly appreciated by Koreans. Even though the tastes are not the same, the fact that they have found such places in Turkey and the interest of other people makes them happy.
When we visited the place, we also tried Yukgaejang, Mr. WON’s favorite dish on their menu. He told us about this dish, which his mother used to make on special occasions when they were little, with the happiness it gave him to experience it in a completely different country. Yukgaejang, a spicy and meaty dish, is a type of soup that used to be served in the Korean royal palace cuisine. It creates a perfect combination with beef boiled with heavy spices, green falcon and other vegetables.
Some of the foods from Korean cuisine, where the spicy culture is very common, may not suit our taste because they are very spicy. When we asked this question to Mr. Won, he said that since they started eating hot food when they were very young, they got used to it and liked it. Contrary to popular belief, there were many Turkish customers who liked spicy food, and this surprised him. The culture of eating spicy food, which is one of the complaints of most tourists visiting the region, can be quite challenging for those who are not used to it.
When we asked him his favorite Korean food in general, we got the answer: Kimbap. He said he could eat all the time. Kimbap was one of my favorite dishes when I visited the restaurant. If we need to explain a little about this dish, which is very simple to make and very nutritious. Kimbap, in its most basic form, is a food made by rolling up plenty of cooked rice and accompanying tuna, avocado, salmon, smoked meat and vegetables. Neuron is used in its outer layer. They may prefer rice sometimes steamed or sometimes boiled. In Korea, it is consumed a lot during patient visits, picnics, and light lunches. You can change the products you want according to your own taste. Although it is generally preferred to be eaten by dipping it in soy sauce, since it is rolled up, it turns into a dish that you can eat practically while walking on the street, at a picnic or at work.
Mr. Won’s favorite Turkish dish is “Dolma”. It is impossible for Koreans, who are very fond of rice, not to fall in love with rice in peppers. Although rice was used in almost all dishes in curry, he was surprised that there was no dish in which they added pepper in this way. Stating that he was almost fascinated when he first ate the dish, Mr. Won said that he could eat stuffed vegetables for three meals a day.
He said that as a Korean, the most difficult aspect of doing business in Turkey is the language barrier. He stated that although he has been living in Turkey for 8 years and speaks Turkish, this language barrier is quite challenging when doing business. However, he said that he continued to learn Turkish or went to work with Turkish people to cope with this difficulty.
Expressing that they are very pleased that there are so many young people interested in Korea in Turkey, Mr. Won thanked the young people and everyone else who is interested in this interest. This interest made them very happy and the relations between the two countries. He mentioned that he wanted this love to grow even more. I hope everyone can go and visit this restaurant at least once in their life and experience Korean culture and food. Be sure that everyone will enjoy experiencing this unique experience.
By Hümeyra Öztürkçü