About this episode

In this episode, the hosts explore the history and preparation of Korean mung bean sprouts while taking listeners on a journey back to 15th century Korea.

Grab your imaginary passports, Culture Kids! In this episode, Kristen and Asher welcome their friend Senna into the kitchen to cook up a Korean side dish called sukju namul (숙주나물), better known in English as seasoned mung bean sprouts. But this isn't just a cooking lesson. Halfway through sautéing sprouts with soy sauce and sesame oil, the Culture Train whisks the kids back to 15th century Hanyang (modern-day Seoul) during the Joseon Dynasty, where they uncover the real reason this humble vegetable carries the name of a royal scholar named Shin Suk-ju. Kids will learn how a political betrayal during a real moment in Korean history became forever linked to a fast-spoiling vegetable, and why Koreans have called mung bean sprouts "sukju namul" for hundreds of years. It's a story about food, memory, loyalty, and how history hides in the meals we eat every day. What mung bean sprouts (sukju namul) are and how they're prepared in Korean cooking The difference between how mung bean sprouts were cooked in the Joseon Dynasty versus how they're cooked today The true story of Korean scholar Shin Suk-ju and the royal succession crisis that changed his legacy How a vegetable came to be named…

More episodes of Culture Kids

• Where Did Unicorns Really Come From? The Surprising True History for Kids · July 3, 2026 · 16 min
• Meet Polar Bears, Pandas & Orangutans! A Wild Animal Adventure for Kids · June 19, 2026 · 19 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Culture Kids podcast page.