I've heard a lot that if you taste even "songeo", you won't be able to eat Korean traditional dishes. I wonder what kind of dish "songeo" is after all, and whether most Koreans enjoy eating "songeo", saying that the taste of "skate" is trashy. don't you? Don't you always want to eat "songeo" too?
Source: Heuksando raw skate - Search results | Shopping How (kakao.com)
It is a fish belonging to the skate order among the stingray species. It is famous as a synonym for fermented food in Korea. It was originally a fish enjoyed by the common people with makgeolli. The price has risen, and in the 2010s, it has become so expensive that it costs between 400,000 and 1.3 million won per dog. In particular, red salmon near Heuksando is treated differently. Since they cannot keep up with demand, they import a lot from Chile and Argentina, and most skates eaten in Korea are imported.
In a broad sense, stingray refers to the entire order of stingrays, including skates, so skates also belong to stingrays, but in Korea, skates are highly regarded separately because of their rarity and taste. I'm on the side. There are different names depending on the region, such as Ganjaemi or Gaenggaemi. These names are different for each region, but they are classified according to size. As for the size of the border, if you can eat raw fish with the bones down to the body, it's liver fun, and if it's bigger than that, it's skate. There is also a theory that if it is within about 40cm including the tail, it can be eaten raw with the bone.
(Source: Namu Wiki Reference and Arrangement)
Source: “The strong taste is alive”… Heuksando Skate Festival opens on the 10th (hankookilbo.com)
Skate is one of the traditional foods eaten in Korea and is usually made by fermenting fish. And the characteristic of skate is its strong dark smell and salty taste.
Source: Korean Mokpo blue skate Heuksando skate samhap seasoned sashimi - Interpark (interpark.com)
The taste of skates can vary depending on individual taste, but skates usually have a very salty and unusual taste and aroma. This taste may be very appealing to some people, but unpleasant to others. In addition, skate's unique smell and taste can be felt similar to other fermented foods, and because of these characteristics, the expression "garbage taste" is often used. However, in areas where there is a culture of eating skate, many people enjoy this food, and some people enjoy its taste and aroma. Therefore, since the taste of skate differs according to individual taste, it is better to try it once and judge whether it suits your taste.
There is also a sentence that explains the terrible smell of skates in the mermaid school pirates, and even the origin of skates is explained, so if you refer to them, you will be able to figure out what kind of skates are in the eyes of Koreans.
Corresponding sentence web link: If you know it, you want to be entangled in skates. Why? - Mermaid Pirates (tpirates.com)
Foreigners also eat skate, but because the taste and smell of skate is strong and unique, not all foreigners can easily enjoy it. However, among foreigners who are interested in Korean food, there are also people who want to try skate.
While some foreigners dislike the taste and smell of skate, others find it an appealing taste. In addition, skates contain many nutrients that are good for health, so some foreigners who are interested in health prefer to eat skates.
Overall, Hongeo is one of the foods with a very divided preference among foreigners due to its unique taste and smell. However, trying Hongeo with an understanding and respect for Korean culture can be a good experience.
There is even a video on YouTube where foreigners are eating skate for the first time, and you can see how foreigners feel about skate.
You may not be able to accept the salty and unusual taste and aroma of skate, but once you try it, you will eventually know whether you like it or not, and you will understand Korea's traditional food culture even more!
