K-Food

K-Food

From The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

May 15, 2026 · 42 min

About this episode

Jaega Wise explores the impact of Korean culture on the popularity of Korean food in the UK.

Hallyu - the Korean Wave - is taking over. With dramas and films like Squid Game and K-Pop Demon Hunters topping the Netflix charts, K-beauty products filling TikTok feeds and chemist shop shelves, and the global tour of the biggest K-Pop band in the world, BTS, about to begin, there’s no getting away from it’s impact. In this programme Jaega Wise explores how this fascination with Korean culture is driving the popularity of Korean food across the UK. She chats with celebrity chef and author, Judy Joo and meets the restaurant owner catering for some of the most well-known K-Pop bands in the world. Jaega also takes a look at the products hitting our supermarket shelves, and finds out why the sharing concept is central to the ethos of Korean food. Presented by Jaega Wise and produced by Tory Pope for BBC Audio in Bristol

People in this episode

Host: Jaega Wise

Guest: Judy Joo

Topics covered

  • Korean food
  • Korean culture
  • Hallyu
  • K-Pop
  • celebrity chefs
  • supermarket products

Keywords

  • Korean Wave
  • K-Pop
  • Korean food
  • celebrity chef
  • supermarket
  • sharing concept

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BTS

Products: K-beauty products

Books & works: Squid Game

Places: UK

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