While watching Korean dramas, have you ever wondered why Koreans eat seaweed soup on their birthday?? While this may seems strange to Westerners, Korean birthday soup is something that most Koreans will eat on their special day. Find out why in the video below!
Why Koreans Eat Seaweed Soup on their Birthday
When women in Korean give birth, they are fed seaweed soup, Mi yuk guk [미역국] – Korean birthday soup – as it is seen as the healthiest post-partum food to eat.
Seaweed contains a lot of iodine and iron which help restore blood that the mother lost during child birth. They also helps with producing milk.
Since this is the mother’s first meal, it also means that is it the baby’s first meal.
As Korean culture is based on Confucianism, your birthday is also a reminder of the day that your mother gave you life, so, as a sign of respect to your elders – your mother in this case – you eat Korean birthday soup – seaweed soup – as a way of giving thanks.
And this is why Koreans eat seaweed soup on their birthday!
