But due to the popularity of “Squid Game,†the candy has returned as a retro, nostalgic snack, Mr. Park said. “For some of these young Koreans, I don’t think they consciously think it’s Korean candy, but it’s a way to connect with their story that they don’t necessarily want to do in a book of. history, â€he said.
Social media guided her leap to global fame, introducing the candy to people outside of South Korea.
The name dalgona has become more familiar to Americans amid the coronavirus pandemic due to the popularity of whipped coffee also known as dalgona. The drink rose to fame in January 2020 after actor Jung Il-woo tried it out in Macau on “Stars’ Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant,†a South Korean TV show. He said it reminded him of dalgona candy, unofficially naming the drink in the process. It then feverishly spread to coffee shops in South Korea and eventually made its way to the United States.
Some people, however, say that the spread of dalgona candy via social media can separate them from their cultural significance. “Dalgona candy is representative of the K-pop and K-drama fetishization, and to see one thing and say, ‘Wow, I discovered Korean culture,'” said Nancy Wang Yuen, sociologist and an expert on race and racism in Hollywood, “when in fact candy, movies, TV shows, all of those things did exist.
What you need to know about the ‘Squid Game’
Have you ever heard of this South Korean drama? It was released on Netflix on September 17 and quickly gained a worldwide audience. Here’s a look at this dystopian tube:
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- Behind the global call: “Squid Game” exploits South Korea’s concerns about expensive housing and scarce jobs, concerns familiar to its US and international viewers.
- To read on the show: Wondering if you should dive? We’ve rounded up what’s worth reading from the Ink Oceans on the series.
- What is Dalgona Candy? : Interest in the South Korean treat has increased since the show started. Here’s why.
- What to watch next: Are you done with “Squid Game” and loved it? Add these six TV shows and movies to your streaming queue.
Fans love the candy’s blend of bitter, nutty and sweet flavors. “The flavor, for whatever reason, stays with you,†said Annie Yoo, 46, of Düsseldorf, Germany.
Ms. Yoo’s most vivid memories of South Korea are of foods like dalgona candy, as she was only 6 years old when she immigrated to the United States. She remembers the dirt roads she took to get to the dalgona street vendors under their tarpaulins.
