Find Your Life Partner the Way You Want

When people think of “matchmaking,” the term often summons images of elders creating couples based on signs from the heavens or aunts trying to find dates for their older nephews. Yet times have changed, and Korean matchmaking company DUO is determined to help singles navigate the choppy waters of the dating pool and find life partners. The following interview with David, one of the representatives at DUO’s LA branch, describes exactly what DUO offers. 1) Q. What is DUO? We are an offline dating service providing selective matchmaking services to Korean American professionals. We begin with a textual, verbal, and visual consultation to determine your easily recognizable as well as your hidden preferences. We then send you and your matching candidate to each other’s profiles. If both parties mutually like each other, we notify each party and set up a time and location for the initial encounter. After each, we ask for a detailed report in person or via phone to learn about everything you liked or disliked about your candidate. We use this detailed feedback to adjust when finding your next potential candidate. We also take pride in accommodating members with their own private couple managers to assist continuously over the phone and in person, with prices varying depending on your preferences. If you have very specific preferences; for example, if your partner has to be a neurosurgeon from a third generation Christian household who was born in the year of the Monkey, that would require us to extensively scour through our international databases to find those specific candidates, [and would therefore be more expensive]. Our Korean branch originated in 1995, and our LA branch was established in 2000. The reason for our high success rate of 50% of our candidates getting married is because we extensively screen individuals who are serious about marriage, metric, and non-metric qualities. 2) Can you tell us about DUO’s special Christmas event on November 28? Everyone’s so busy these days and they just don’t have the time or the opportunities to meet professionals of their caliber. Our goal is to provide a fun and lively atmosphere for our members to socialize and meet special people during the holiday season. It’s also to showcase our professional matchmaking services to Korean American professionals who not currently members. 3) What programs does the event offer? This elegant event will be held at the Hilton LA with an open bar. Our special MC and DJ will facilitate an entertaining night filled with speed dating, games, and dancing. 4) Who should attend the event? Any single Korean American professionals willing to let loose and have fun are great candidates. Participants will enjoy an entertaining, de-stressing evening with opportunities to meet special people via eclectic activities including our trademark speed dating event. 5) Do you have advice for first-time participants? First of all, it’s a party. So, participants should simply come eager with anticipation and excitement. Our priority is for them to have fun. We do advise gentlemen to wear semi-formal or formal attire and ladies to wear cocktail dresses. Another thing we advise is for participants to come prepared with some questions they want to ask during our speed dating event because they will only have a short amount of time per candidate. 6) How can people participate? Contact me by phone 213-383-2525, email me at [email protected], or visit in person at 3055 Wilshire Blvd. #505. For those who can’t make this event, we also provide other popular events such as our hiking events, golfing events, and social mixers throughout the year. DUO’s pursuit of excellence sets them apart from other matchmaking services. With perks ranging from a personal “couple manager” to fun outings, you want to have DUO by your side. By Justin Yoon

2015.11.18. 14:26

Veteran - the story of ‘The Unstoppable Police vs The Untouchable Wealthy’

Veteran is a must-see film for those who love a healthy mix of action, comedy and drama. It had a U.S. release date of Sept. 18th, and since then, has cemented itself as Korea’s third top grossing film of all time. Renowned Korean movie director Ryoo Seung-wan created an atmosphere where his main characters were natural enemies: a morally just cop versus an ultra-corrupt and spoiled playboy. Up and coming actor, Yoo Ah-In (Tough as Iron) played the latter, and offered, what we feel, was the breakout performance of the film. He is known in Korea for his charming good looks and the coming-of-age characters that he portrays, but in this film, he is anything but likeable. The way that he was able to portray blatant disregard for the law seasoned with a hint of madness was so unlike the Yoo Ah-In we’ve gotten to know and love, that we were blown away. His nemesis is an ultimate do-gooder detective, played by Hwang Jung-Min (Ode to My Father) who is out to fix the flawed system that rewards the corrupt and filthy rich and punishes the honest and hardworking middle class. It was interesting to watch his character handle the hurdles and pitfalls in his own life with comedy and compassion, while at the same time, being bombarded by corruption so thick it threatened to engulf his family and friends around him. But, of course, he is not alone and with the help of his team of like-minded and fearless companions, he navigates his way through the web of lies and comes out on top! All in all, this film is the perfect mix of fun, excitement and thoughtfulness. It reminds us that living life with integrity will keep us infinitely richer than any amount of money, since riches can only really take you so far and your crimes will eventually catch up with you. This movie also saw the film debut of one of the Korea’s stars in the modeling industry. Top model, Jang Yoon-Ju played the part of Miss Bong, who is able to hold her own as the team’s only female member. Jang Yoon-Ju is known in Korea for hosting Korea’s Next Top Model, but set all elegance aside as she transformed into the formidable and tough Miss Bong. We hope she will continue to act in other upcoming films as she was fun to watch! There is more exciting news of course! With the success that Veteran saw at the box office this year, a sequel has been green-lit, with Ryoo Seung-Wan and the original team all attached, so we can expect to see Hwang Jung-Min back again, fighting to bring balance to the world, one evil villain at a time. We were able to catch Veteran at the CGV Cinema in Koreatown, the perfect location to get your Korean movie fix! As an added bonus, all movies on Tuesdays (until 2016) are only $6.00, so hurry over! By Nutty Nomads

2015.11.17. 18:30

Nongshim goes Global with Farmer’s Heart

Although Nongshim is a very well known and popular brand in South Korea, dominating the ramen landscape by boasting a 70% market share, the company is relatively unknown in the United States. Nongshim America is setting out to change that by re­imagining, re­tooling, and re­marketing its already popular products to entice Western consumers to give their ramen a try.

How does the company market this distinctly Korean food to non­-Koreans? It hasn’t been easy. When Nongshim decided to expand to the United States in the late 1980s, they thought of only establishing business offices without any data or information for the marketing team to review in order to figure out their next move. Kevin Chang, who is a Marketing Manager at Nongshim America, told us about some of the difficulties of breaking into the US market. “Nongshim is already very popular for Koreans, even Korean immigrants from Korea who live in the United States and Southern California,” Chang said. “To attract other ethnic groups, we have to figure out their tastes, preferences, and culture, because here there are so many ethnic groups living together.” While creating new products that cater to non-­Korean tastes, Nongshim tries not to lose the company’s core values and distinct flavor."Getting into a more mainstream market is a goal since we came here,” he continued. “But we maintain our identity, which is spiciness.” One of their products that has become popular with both Koreans and non-Koreans alike is their vegan ramen, Soon Ramyun (순라면). This product has become a hit here in the States because there are many people who avoid animal products for health, environmental, and ethical reasons. Chang said that Nongshim aims to provide more healthy and premium options than competitors such as Nissan and Maruchan, whose marketing strategy is to sell their products at really low prices. To get into the mainstream market, the company is sponsoring sports teams like the Dodgers, the Yankees, and the USC Trojans. In addition, they’ve used product placement in movies and drama series and event promotion at Korean culture events and K-pop concerts. Another strategy has been to brand their products with the English title, Farmer's Heart, which is the literal translation of Nongshim.

Farmer’s Heart Reaches America and Beyond Lately, Nongshim has seen its products slowly become accepted into the mainstream. Its top four products are Shin Ramyun, Noguri, Chapaghetti, and Anseongtangmyeon, which can be found in chain stores like Costco, Wal-Mart, Ralph's, and even 7-Eleven. According to Chang, “Right now, 60% of sales are coming from non­-Korean groups,” a dramatic shift from ten years ago. It used to be that most sales would come directly from Korea, but now requests are coming from all over the world. “We receive request letters from all over the world: Chile, Afghanistan, South America, and Bangladesh,” he told us. “We went to an Indian event in New York last year [with our] vegan product, Soon Ramyun... We did a lot of sampling, and the people loved our product.” At this year’s KCON in LA, Nongshim donned a huge booth where event­goers could play to win different types of ramen to take home. The line at their booth was one of the longest lines at the convention, demonstrating how popular the brand has become amongst youngsters who follow the Hallyu wave. By constantly creating new products, staying true to their tastes, and presenting the highest quality, slowly but surely, Nongshim is spreading the traditional Korean taste globally for all to enjoy. By Cristina, Daniela(Nutty Nomads). Genesis Miranda, Dong Gi Jung

2015.11.17. 17:26

Koreans find the formula of happiness with Chimaek

During the 1960s and 70s, Koreans reimagined fried chicken to agree with the Korean palette and added cold draft beer to get the now classic combination of Chimaek. Nowadays, it’s typical to see Chimaek showcased in Korean dramas, and there's even a festival devoted to Chimaek in Daegu. The dish exudes deliciousness. The best chicken and beer restaurants in K-town A survey was conducted by The Korea Daily from September 3-10, asking 550 Korean people what they think is the best chicken restaurant in Koreatown. More than 27 restaurants were in heavy competition. OB Bear (3002 W. 7th Street) was selected as the best choice by 18.81% of those surveyed. Although this location is mainly considered a bar, it also serves chicken and other traditional Korean foods that are accompanied by alcohol. The place that ranked second, Koko Chicken and Pizza (3377 Wilshire Blvd), specializes in the chicken and pizza combo. This quaint eatery is tucked away behind the Boiling Crab in the Brown Derby plaza in Koreatown. OB Bear - Taste the traditional flavor from the 1980s in Korea A dimly lit room with comfortable booth and table seating, sports playing on screen, and Korean pop music playing in the background, OB Bear is a perfect place to catch up with friends over drinks. OB Bear has been in business for 25 years, and it was already a famous place for chimaek when its current manager took over 20 years ago. According to Manager Lee, “People visit my place because they are tired of having franchise chicken." Based on those surveyed, one of the most popular menu items is the roast chicken, which is baked in a traditional way. Another that has been a customer favorite for years is the chicken wings, which have a spicy pepper sauce. Lee believes the difference between his place and other chimaek places is that his chicken is very simple. Since it is not fried, he says, it is easy to eat. “Honestly, the recipes that other chicken restaurants use are basically from Korea, and those restaurants are kind of another branch of the Korean ones. I believe this is a reason that people come to my place. The method we use is just simple like the way people served chicken in South Korea during 1980s," Lee said. Based off of the survey, we ordered one of their most famous dishes which was the whole roast chicken that came with two pieces of chicken, a side of coleslaw salad, and a bowl of cubed white radishes. To add a bit of spice and flavor, the chicken also came with jalapeños and salt in two small containers. Their friendly staff was quick to take our order and accommodate all of their customers. Considering the bar style ambiance of OB Bear, it is the perfect place to meet up with friends and watch a sports game over drinks or simply enjoy some of the best chicken in Koreatown.

KoKo Chicken and Pizza - Experience the most popular and representative flavor beloved by Koreans When we sat down at KoKo Chicken and Pizza, we asked the waitress about the most popular dish and she told us about the Pa Dak Combo which included pizza and Pa Dak chicken composed of a lightly fried boneless chicken covered in green onions. Based on the waitress’ recommendation, we opted to indulge in a Pa Dak chicken and Pepperoni pizza combo with a pitcher of beer. From the taste, we knew why this beloved spot ranked so high on the poll! We asked owner Max Jo why he thought his restaurant was so popular, and he let us in on his secret. “The recipe we use in America is nearly the same as the original in Korea,” Jo said. “The marinated sauce evokes the authentic taste you would get in Korea, which is why many Koreans visit our business.” It also seems that there is a correlation between sports and the volume of customers that appear at Koko Chicken and Pizza on a given day. “When [Dodgers pitcher and native Korean] Hyun-Jin Ryu is playing, so many people come around to the restaurant and watch his games and eat our chicken and pizza; when that happens, our sales often jump up over three to four times compared to regular times,” Jo stated. When we told him about the Korea Insider poll, Jo said, “I’ve heard that OB Bear has been placed as the Number One Korean chicken restaurant. It’s not a surprise. I personally go to OB Bear often because I really like their roasted chicken.” Yet Jo has many ideas for the future of his establishment, and he says that customers have a lot of new things to look forward to. “I would like to make KoKo Chicken the Number One place next time,” he told the Korea Insider. “I actually have a recipe for grilled chicken that gives a crispier taste right now,” he continued. “I also have a plan to add more options for customers who visit KoKo Chicken, like fried rice, curry flavored marinated fried chicken, and more. I’m still developing them, but I would like to release those items by the end of this year or the beginning of next year.” What delicious additions to an already delicious menu! And, there is great news for UCLA students. “I would like to offer beverages or side orders such as french fries, onion rings, and cheese sticks to those with Bruin cards,” Jo told us. “But please make sure to visit during November because this will only available for a month.” Hurry in for these special discounts! BY NUTTY NOMADS, GENESIS MIRANDA, DONGGI JUNG

2015.11.06. 16:29

The Top Three Jjampong Restaurants to Taste in Koreatown

More than 20restaurants were in competition-from a famous Korean franchise to a traditional restaurant in Ktown with 31 years of history. Restaurants have special offers available for those carrying Bruin cards. The surprising origin of Jjampong Jjampong may be one of Korea’s favorite foods, but this iconic dish has its roots in Japan. It was first created as a dish by Chinese immigrants in Nagasaki, Japan. Traditionally, Jjampong broth was created by using onions and chili oil, to which cooks added a mix of vegetables and pork. This soup was aimed at feeding hungry students on a budget. The staple meal has evolved dramatically since then, to incorporate spicy soup broth, vegetables and fresh noodles, and an abundance of seafood like shrimp, mussels, and squid. Jjampong is almost always served alongside the equally-popular Jjajangmyeon, a noodle dish, in Korean-style Chinese restaurants across Korea and the world. This hot meal is usually enjoyed during colder months as it’s believed to warm up tired bodies. You may also catch busy office workers at lunch time indulging in the ever popular 1⁄2 Jjampong, 1⁄2 Jjajangmyeon combo! If you’re a seafood lover, this is a dish you should not miss! The Best 3 Jjampong restaurants in K-town Many Koreans in America, especially those living in LA’s Koreatown, eat Jjampong for their lunch because of its affordable price and unique flavor. To help Korean food lovers find the best Jjampong, the Korea Daily commissioned an online survey comparing 22 Jjampong restaurants in K-town. Almost 1,100 people participated! Selected by 10% of the voters, Cho Man Won (초만원) was the highest-ranked restaurant in the survey. Respondents said they love this restaurant because the seafood is fresh and the Jjampong is spicier than other places. In addition, Cho Man Won is well known for Jjampong being served in a gigantic bowl. Lee Man Goo Gyodong Jjampong (이만구 교동짬뽕) was selected by 7.9% of respondents. A famous franchise in South Korea, Gyodong Jjampong will open its second US restaurant soon in Garden Grove. People love the broth because it has Korean pepper and shrimp in it. In a close third place was Heung Rae Gak (흥래각), chosen by 7.8%. People love this place because they put plenty of seafood and vegetables in their Jjampong and cook it very quickly through their special technique. The Korea Insider was able to visit Lee Man Goo Gyodong and Heung Rae Gak and conduct interviews with the owners of each. Cho Man Won, however, is temporarily closed due to a fire that occurred on August 1. Owner Chulwon Oh hopes to be able to re-open by the end of this year or beginning of 2016.

Lee Man Gu Gyodong Jjampong - The Rise of a Franchise We stopped by Lee Man Gu Gyodong Jjampong for a bite to eat after we heard that it is one of the best places for Jjampong in Ktown. The texture of the noodles was perfect, and the broth was subtle and delicious. The dish was full of fresh ingredients like shrimp and mussels! We also had the chance to sample other items from the menu including Jjajangmyeon and a fried pork dish called Tang-sooyook. The pork was perfectly fried and not greasy at all. It tasted very light, and the accompanying sauce gave it an extra dash of deliciousness. Jay Park, the owner of Lee Man Gu Gyodong, gets many questions about Jjampong from those who are not familiar with the popular Korean lunch food, so he has come up with a clever way to market his trademark dish. “I think Hispanic and Asian customers usually enjoy spicy food,” Park told the Korea Insider. “Therefore, how I explain Jjampong to them is, ‘It’s a spicy seafood noodle soup!’ and they seem very interested and usually like it after all.” But does it taste like actual Jjampong from South Korea? We asked how hard it is to preserve the authentic taste of Jjampong here in LA, and he said “We import dried red pepper powder, seafood powder, black soybean paste and starch from our headquarters in South Korea. Regarding veggies and seafood, markets in LA carry more rich and high quality [fresh ingredients], so we use them. This is how we maintain the authentic and original flavor, just like people taste in Korea.” If you have a craving for Jjampong, or want to try it for the first time, check out Lee Man Gu Gyodong Jjampong, which is located inside the food court on the second floor of the City Center on 6th shopping center. If you’re skeptical about getting high quality Jjampong from a food court, then you might miss out on something good! There is also a special treat for UCLA students who visit the restaurant. According to Park, “We are willing to offer UCLA students carrying their student IDs free Jjajangmyun on the side if they order Jjampong and Sweet and Sour Pork.” Sign us up!

Heung Rae Gak - 31 Years of Traditional Family Business We visited Heung Rae Gak on a Saturday afternoon to see why this location was chosen as one of the top places for Jjampong. The Jjampong was served along with some side dishes with yellow radish, onions, and kimchi. The soup itself was very hot and had a spicy flavor, and the seafood in the soup tasted very fresh. The soup included many kinds of seafood like shrimp, mussels, squid and sea cucumber. Those without giant appetites should share a bowl of Jjampong with a friend because the portions here are huge. Although it’s not a fast food restaurant, staffers prepare food quickly and the restaurant also offers delivery service in Koreatown. If someone is looking for a good place with friendly staff and an at home feeling to eat Jjampong, then Heung Rae Gak is a great choice. "Customers are number one, we try to give you what you want," said Mike Choi, 27, whose family owns the Korean-Chinese fusion restaurant. Heung Rae Gak was established in Koreatown about 31 years ago and makes an effort to maintain authenticity. Heung Rae Gak also serves a variety of other options such as chicken, seafood, or beef dishes. “For anyone coming here for the first time I recommend the Peking chicken,” said Choi. The restaurant also serves Peking crab, but customers have to call ahead for this particular dish. Choi says he is honest when customers ask questions about the menu. “Unpopular dishes I’d never recommend,” said Choi. "We have a great staff that's very family-oriented. These chefs try to keep the taste [from ever changing]," said Choi. Although the majority of customers are Korean, Choi told us that he has seen growth in non-Korean customers over the past two years. When asked about their busiest season, Choi said business is well-rounded throughout the year. If it's hot outside people will usually order Naengmyeon, cold noodles. When the weather is cold, or when someone is drunk or hungover, people will have Jjampong. Even in the summer, Jjampong is very popular. Choi thinks it’s due to the fact that many Korean people want to "fight fire with fire,” meaning that they enjoy hot food during hot weather. With 31 years of service in Koreatown, the family behind Heung Rae Gak is an example of a traditional family sharing their food and culture with America. "I really hope our restaurant will get bigger," said Choi. Heung Rae Gak offers free beverages to students with UCLA IDs. It is located at 357 Western Avenue, Suite 102, in Los Angeles and its phone number is (213) 383-0178. BY NUTTY NOMADS, GENESIS MIRANDA, DONG GI JUNG

2015.10.13. 18:25