1 week Ago
Thankfully, not every child must suffer the same cafeteria blues, and perhaps least of all the high schoolers in South Korea. I'm warning you now, you're about to get very jealous. From Seoul to Busan, Taehun records (and eats) what are seriously some of the tastiest-looking lunches I've ever seen anywhere , not to mention a high school cafeteria.
He got started when he came to study in South Korea and would send photos of his post-class lunches to friends and family back in the United States. He brought that content to TikTok soon after, then expanded beyond university lunches to offices and high schools . I thought the schools featured must all be private, but Taehun visits both public and private schools for the videos.
He got started by requesting permission to visit and record in their dining halls, but he says the videos have gotten so popular that schools and companies are actually reaching out to invite him to dine there. Taehun said his videos draw viewers from around the world, and their reactions to the lunches look a little different depending on where they're from. "My lunch videos [.
..] have received an overwhelming response from an international audience.
I often get comments like, 'You're so lucky to have this kind of food at school!' and 'I want to visit Korea to experience the food myself.' Many of my followers are planning to study or work in Korea, and my videos give them a glimpse of what they might be eating once they start living here," he said. "Meanwhile, Korean viewers engage with my videos in a different way," Taehun said.
"They often compare their own school lunches to the ones I showcase or fondly reminisce about their high school and university days. It's fascinating to see how my content resonates with people from all over the world, sparking curiosity, nostalgia and even excitement for the Korean food culture." I asked Taehun about the differences he notices between the US and Korea in the preparation and philosophy of school lunches.
"In the US, many of the dishes were pre-packaged, offering the advantage of consistency and allowing students to choose from a variety of options based on their personal preferences. This flexibility is great for accommodating different tastes and dietary needs," he said. "Meanwhile, in Korea, almost everything is freshly made in-house right before lunchtime.
In Korean high schools, a professional nutritionist plans well-balanced meals daily so students can enjoy a nutritious meal without the hassle of deciding on a menu. Another significant difference is that all high school lunches in Korea are free, fully funded by the government, ensuring every student has access to a healthy meal," he said. What did your school lunches look like where you grew up? If they were anything like these, I'm * sniffles * happy for you.
And if they weren't...
we can commiserate in the comments..
