When work is over, people naturally look for something to relieve fatigue. Some people exercise, while others listen to music or watch movies to relieve stress. However, if you were to choose one of the ‘most common rewards after work’ in Korea, it would definitely be samgyeopsal.
Samgyeopsal is not just food. It is a signal that announces the end of work and the beginning of rest, and it is also a ritual of bonding with others while grilling meat together. It is an act of relieving stress accumulated during the day, feeling a sense of accomplishment and relief, and sometimes rewarding oneself for holding on silently. At the center of it all is samgyeopsal.
However, the reason samgyeopsal and labor are so closely linked is not simply because of taste. If we examine the psychological, social, and economic factors hidden here, we can understand more deeply why so many people seek out samgyeopsal after work and what meaning samgyeopsal has in the lives of Koreans.
Psychological Reasons for Looking for Samgyeopsal after Work: The Instinct of Reward
When humans work for a long time, they naturally feel a psychological desire to be rewarded. This goes beyond simple satisfaction and also affects the body physically. After finishing a hard day, we usually tend to look for high-calorie, high-protein foods. This is a physiological response to replenish the energy consumed by the body and relieve stress at the same time.
Samgyeopsal is one of the best foods to satisfy this psychological reward.
- The rich, savory taste of fat gives immediate satisfaction in the mouth.
- The savory taste that deepens as you chew the meat sends signals to the brain that induce ‘happiness.’
- The sound of the meat sizzling on the grill also gives auditory pleasure.
These sensory elements go beyond simply filling the stomach, and play a role in relieving fatigue and stress after work. Therefore, many people naturally think of samgyeopsal when they think, ‘I had a really hard day today.’
Samgyeopsal is not a food to be eaten alone, but rather a food to be eaten together: Forming social bonds
Samgyeopsal is basically perceived as a ‘food to be eaten together’ rather than a ‘food to be eaten alone’. This is because samgyeopsal has important social symbolism in Korean society.
Forming relationships and teamwork in the workplace
In the workplace culture of Korea, ‘hoe-dining’ is not simply a place to eat. Hoe-dining serves the function of strengthening teamwork, forming bonds between colleagues, and sometimes smoothing relationships with superiors at work.
So why is samgyeopsal often chosen as a menu for company dinners?
- Because it is a food that is good for grilling and eating together.
- Because conversation naturally follows the process of turning and cutting the meat.
- It goes well with soju, relieving work-related tension and creating a comfortable atmosphere.
In other words, eating samgyeopsal together is not simply a meal, but an important means of forming and maintaining social relationships.
Strengthening bonds between family members
Samgyeopsal is a common menu item not only at company dinners but also at home. The scene of families grilling pork belly together on weekend evenings is a common sight in Korean homes. The process of the father grilling meat, the mother setting the table, and the children wrapping and eating ssam is not simply a ‘meal’, but a scene where family members spend time together and communicate.
Especially for parents with busy schedules, grilling pork belly can be a valuable opportunity to talk to their children. Even small talk like “What fun things happened at school?” can naturally flow as you grill pork belly.
In this way, pork belly strengthens bonds with family, coworkers, and friends, and in the process, helps relieve labor fatigue and provide emotional satisfaction.
Pork belly from an economic perspective: High cost-effectiveness rewards
Another reason pork belly is popular in Korea is its high satisfaction level compared to its relatively low price.
While eating steak for a meal costs at least 30,000 to 50,000 won, pork belly can be enjoyed for just 10,000 won per person. In addition, restaurants that sell samgyeopsal often provide basic side dishes for free, and often include service menus such as soybean paste stew and steamed eggs.
Therefore, samgyeopsal has become established as a food that provides sufficient satiety and satisfaction without financial burden, and thanks to this, it has become a representative dining out menu that many people choose after work.
Samgyeopsal is not just food, but a symbol of labor and rest
Samgyeopsal is not just a meal, but a reward after work, a tool that strengthens social relationships, and a cost-effective means of happiness.
- Psychologically, it is a food that relieves fatigue after work and provides sensory satisfaction.
- Socially, it is a food that strengthens relationships with colleagues and family.
- Economically, it is a food that provides sufficient satiety without financial burden.
In other words, samgyeopsal can be said to be an essential ritual for Koreans after work that is deeply connected to the labor culture of Korea.
Today, we look for samgyeopsal
The reason why people naturally ask, “How about samgyeopsal today?” after work is not simply because the meat is delicious. It is intertwined with various elements such as rewarding yourself for getting through the day, communicating with people you are with, and making a relatively easy economic choice.
In the end, isn't samgyeopsal not just food,
but a cultural symbol that says, "You worked hard today, eat samgyeopsal."
So today, you who had a hard day.
How about melting your stress away with a piece of samgyeopsal?