That Winter Dish Everyone Waits For
Hey guys! So, you know how in America, everyone gets excited for pumpkin spice lattes in the fall? Here in Korea, when winter rolls around, we have something way better: Bangeo-hoe (방어회), which is raw yellowtail. It’s this delicious, oily fish that’s at its absolute best in the cold months. Gathering with friends to share a big plate of Bangeo and a bottle of soju is basically a winter tradition. It was always that perfect, affordable comfort food to warm you up. But this year… something’s seriously wrong.
Sticker Shock at the Fish Market
Okay, so I’m not kidding when I say people are in shock. A platter of Bangeo that you’d share with friends is now going for as much as 100,000 won—that’s around $80 USD! For a dish that we always considered a ‘bang for your buck’ winter special, this is just wild. I’ve seen so many posts online and heard my friends complaining. Everyone’s asking the same thing: How did our favorite seasonal fish suddenly get a luxury price tag?
A Perfect Storm of Problems
It turns out, it’s not just one thing, but a whole bunch of issues hitting at once. The biggest culprit seems to be climate change. This past summer, Korea experienced super high ocean temperatures and red tides, which unfortunately caused a massive die-off of the farmed yellowtail. On top of that, bad weather out at sea has made it harder to catch wild Bangeo, and even the supply we get from Japan has dropped.
At the same time, Bangeo has become more popular than ever, especially with the younger ‘MZ generation’. It’s all over Instagram and YouTube mukbangs as the *must-eat* winter food. So you have way more people wanting to eat it, but way less fish available. It’s a classic case of supply and demand, and it’s hitting our wallets hard.
So, Can We Still Eat Bangeo This Winter?
Honestly, it’s getting tough. Restaurant owners are in a really tight spot. They either have to charge these super high prices or reduce the amount of yellowtail they serve and fill the plate with other, cheaper fish. A lot of people are sadly deciding to skip their Bangeo fix this year because it’s just too expensive. It’s a huge bummer for everyone who looks forward to this seasonal tradition. Here’s hoping things get better next year, because a winter without Bangeo just doesn’t feel right!
