Popularity
Since kimchi bokkeumbap is cheap and easy to make in a short period of time, it is favored by students living alone who can not afford expensive meals. Kimchi bokkeumbap is also a popular item for lunch at a bunsikjeom (hangul: 분식점, a diner or bistro-like restaurant in South Korea). As the dish is hot and spicy, it is typically served with danmuji and a small bowl of any kind of mild and warm soup such as miyeok guk (soup made with wakame), or kongnamul guk (hangul: 콩나물국, "kongnamul soup, or bean sprout soup"). During summer, cool dongchimi (water kimchi) can also be accompanied with the dish.
The popularity of kimchi bokkeumbap is also reflected in South Korean pop culture. Byeon Jin-sub (hangul: 변진섭), a popular male singer in the late 1980s, sang a song titled "Wishes" (hangul: 희망사항) in which he stated that the singer's ideal girlfriend would be one who cooks good kimchi bokkeumbap. In the song "I Need A Girl" by Taeyang, he also says that his ideal girlfriend will eat the kimchi bokkeumbap that he cooks.
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