HIDDEN KOREA: HARVEST FOR THE ANCESTORS
A one hour television documentary -- initially aired 2000-2001

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HIDDEN KOREA is a culinary history journey to the Republic of Korea. A main theme is "tradition and change." Western audiences think of Korea as an industrial powerhouse, built after a terrible war. What they may not know are the lasting roots of traditional Korean culture and the deep sense of Korean identity that the people have. Although Korea has absorbed many cultural elements from the outside world - from China in ancient times which were then passed on to Japan, and the west today -- there is the powerful sense of tradition that we intend to show. It is seen in art, in customs, and in food. The latter is important because the family, that core of tradition, is symbolized for Koreans by their food, its preparation, and rituals.

Korean cuisine is not some poor relative of China, but is sui generis: it is just becoming better known to the outside world: it is currently one of the new "hot" cuisines on the American culinary scene. Korean food is highly regional. By starting near the north part of the country and ending in the south, at Chejudo Island, we show the varieties of landscapes - spectacular, mist-covered mountains, beautiful sunset-lit shores - and climates that compose Korea and from which its varieties of cuisines come.

The time is fall when the rice harvest takes place and the countryside is in full bloom. This is the time for several festivals, none more important than Ch'sok. Called "Thanksgiving" in English translation, this is really the ancient holiday honoring the ancestors. Families gather together in their hometowns to celebrate the departed forebearers whose spirits return for one night each year. Gravesites, grassy mounds, are well for the event and special meals prepared for the family both living and dead. After a night of celebration and prayer, family members trek to the gravesite and offer food and drink (rice wine) to the illustrious ancestors. We visit a traditional family, living in an ancient house and wearing traditional clothing, in the preserved mountain village of Chang'hok for the festival. We follow them and they perform all the required rituals and climb through a beautiful bamboo forest to the graves of their ancestors for the final rites of the day.

Throughout the program, viewers explore Korea's tradition (and change) through foodstuffs. We chronicle, for instance, how the introduction of chiles (about 1700), sweet potatoes, and wheat, among others changed Korea's rice-based cuisine. How important food is to the culture is seen in the many Korean proverbs related to food. Partly this is due to the great variety of local dishes. For instance, every fall each household prepare kimch'i, or pickled cabbage). Koreans have more than one hundred varieties, and so beloved is the dish that there's even a museum in Seoul dedicated to it! Naturally, we see it being made and sample many varieties. Korean householders also make soy sauce and bean paste. A proverb says that people can judge your culinary skill from the taste of your soy sauce and bean paste. These are vegetarian dishes that are rooted Buddhism. Since religion plays a large role in preserving tradition, we visit temples and shrines to see their beauty and witness unique ceremonies - dances - dedicated to the fertility of the land.

Food and arts have always been related because fine cookery is itself an art form. We'll visit the Ich'on Pottery Village and Hae-Gang Pottery Museum to watch the artisans making the famous pottery used for cooking and fine dining. We then travel to Chonju with our host to see and eat the famous multiple dish meals served there, including Pibimpap. This famous Korean dish is composed of a mound of cooked rice set in a stone bowl, then covered with bits of meat, seasoned vegetables, and a barely fried egg. The whole is stirred together and served with a spicy red pepper sauce. The program concludes in Cheju Island . With its unique subtropical climate, nutmeg and fruit tree plantations flourish. We show scenes of traditional fishing and the famous women divers who fish for abalone. The most spectacular scenery in all Korea is said to be on this island which boasts the country's tallest mountain Sangumburi Crater.

HIDDEN KOREA shows American audiences the traditions and culture of one of the world's leading economic powers through its food and food history. While a country might become technologically modern, it can retain its vital heritage. Our program also provides an insight into culture of the many Koreans who live in North America.

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