Off the beaten track in Jangheung
Published: 20 Feb. 2013, 20:07
A hanwoo farm in Jangheung
But an increasing number of Koreans at least have begun to visit the quiet, picturesque area in recent years with the 2009 opening of Wood Land.
The 100-hectare spread of forests, trails and accommodations on Mt. Eokbul has become a popular destination in an area that otherwise lacks many attractions.
Decades-old cypress trees form an exquisite scene in the forests. Cypress are known to emit a high level of phytoncide - an organic compound produced by plants that’s thought to be good for your health. Nowadays, some 900,000 people visit Wood Land every year.
If you’re in Jangheung you need to try the local specialty: Jangheung samhap. In Korean, samhap roughly translates as “three things that create harmony together.” The word is often used in food to refer to different three-ingredient combinations.
For example, hongeo samhap refers to the peculiar, pungent delicacy of hongeo, or fermented skate, served with pork and aged kimchi. Samhap mieum (thin rice porridge) is mieum made of sea cucumber, mussels and beef. Koreans believe that when eaten together these ingredient trios can’t be beat in terms of taste and nutrition.
Jangheung’s own version of the culinary threesome consists of hanwoo, or Korean beef, shiitake mushrooms and pen shells.
Jangheung samhap trio consists of hanwoo, shiitake mushroom and pen shell. [JoongAng Ilbo]
On the first floor, you shop for your hanwoo, shiitake mushrooms and pen shells. After you pay, you take everything upstairs to cook it and dig in. Foodies of all stripes will love this delicious Korean take on surf and turf with the addition of shiitake mushrooms.
As with any type of meat in Korea, you make a lettuce-wrap out of your ingredients. Before you begin, you dip each of the three items in sesame oil mixed with salt.
After your wrap, treat yourself to a slice of garlic dipped in ssamjang, a mix of soybean and red pepper paste that’s a staple at any type of Korean barbeque. It’s a fiery mouthful that’s not for the faint of heart.
Jangheung County has been trying to promote its hanwoo for years, providing subsidies to farmers and even branding its local products. There are many different regions in the country that claim to have the best hanwoo on the peninsula, but the Jangheung variety has a legitimate claim to the title. It melts on your tongue just like the highest-quality Peking Duck.
Even if you’re not impressed by Jangheung’s touristic offerings, Jangheung samhap makes the trip worthwhile.
By Kim Hyung-eun [hkim@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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