Hello, radio listeners. Thanks for tuning in. Last time, we talked about questions that people tend to ask about Korean food. I also invited people to send us questions. We have a question from Laura from the USA who said, "I love Korean food and learning about it, but I was wondering what foods are trending in Korea and will they last?"
Well, Laura, food trends are quite interesting in Korea for they come and they go quite quickly. Here are some of my observations of what I see popular now.



Number one:
1. Corn is becoming a big import as a snack and it is being imported from Thailand and Vietnam. Korea has always enjoyed boiled corn as a snack but local corn prices have been going up and much of it is being exported. Foreign corn (except from China) are seen as exotic and corn on a stick covered in Butter, cheese and spices is and grilled is becoming a popular restaurant item and street food.
2. Waffles on a stick: This is emerging as a new snack at major social hubs as a street food. The waffle is topped with whipped cream and toppings. It's just a new iteration of the waffle sandwich. But I don't think this will last beyond the season because it is very inconvenient to eat and not too delicious.
3. Soft-serve Ice Cream with Popcorn: the organic soft-serve ice cream trend is dead and companies like Softree know this. They decided to make a new trend instead. It is the same ice cream with popcorn embedded throughout. This is the cheese and caramel ice cream. It was just ok. The caramel popcorn worked with the ice cream. The cheese got soggy and tasted weird. Companies are trying to come up with new projects that can't quickly be copied. I don't think this trend will go mainstream.
4. Another trend is Giant Meatballs on a stick. This is just like the hotdog and burger trends of the past just on a stick and the sweet/savory balls are slathered in mayo, cheese and hoisin sauce. I think this will work because meat is very popular and who doesn't love meat on a stick?
5. Sweet Potato and Cheese Crepes. These are really good. It's steamed sweet potato with melted cheese. I think this might actually work. The creamy cheese and creamy sweet potato works inside of the crepe for it is filling and satisfying. They are trying to find a sauce to work with it. I just don't think strawberry yogurt works. (Yuck).
6. Alcoholic Apple Ciders: These are going mainstream and you can find them now at many bars and even convenience stores.
7. French Fries and Beer houses are very popular these days because what goes better with beer than French Fries?
8. The trend this year has been the franchise red bean shaved ice places. However,I think they over franchised and there are too many copycats, plus, in the immortal words of Eddard Stark, "Winter is Coming." Many of these franchises with their very expensive ice shavers (I have heard each cost upwards of 10,000 usd) will not last the winter. I bet you will start seeing them trying to become restaurants and start to lose their concept by offering pastas, sandwiches, juices, beers and more.
9. Craft Beers are quite popular these days. Craft Beers will last for a while since supply is limited. New brew houses are starting and they have pride in their product and soon they will be able to stand on their own. There is more quality control that way. The trend is for more North American-style ales for now, but I feel there is a lot of room for other regions to become popular.
10. I know not related to food but another big trend this year is the Selfie Stick. Everyone and their mother has one these days and it is the must have social-outing accessory.