마당이 있는 집 (Lies Hidden in My Garden) is a psychological thriller that follows Joo-ran (played by Kim Tae-hee), a woman living an idyllic life in a beautiful house with a garden. Her seemingly perfect world begins to unravel when she notices a strange smell coming from the yard, leading her to uncover dark secrets about her husband and her home. As her path crosses with Sang-eun (played by Lim Ji-yeon), a woman trapped in an abusive marriage, their lives intertwine in unexpected and suspenseful ways, revealing hidden truths beneath their ordinary suburban existence.In Episode 2, Sang-eun, a woman who had long suffered from 가정 폭력 (domestic abuse), experiences a complex rush of emotions following her husband’s sudden death. After enduring years of violence, fear, and control, she is finally free—but this freedom is accompanied by exhaustion, hunger, and a flood of conflicting feelings. She orders 짜장면 (jjajangmyeon; black bean noodle) along with 군만두 (gunmandu; fried dumplings) and 탕수육 (tangsuyuk; sweet and sour pork), and eats with visible urgency, almost devouring the food. Her hurried, almost desperate way of eating symbolizes more than just satisfying physical hunger—it reflects the emotional starvation she endured in her oppressive marriage. For Sang-eun, this meal is not only the first time she can eat in peace, without fear of her husband’s wrath, but also a raw expression of release and survival. Each bite carries the weight of her trauma and the tentative taste of liberation, making this “먹방” (eating scene) a powerful depiction of a woman reclaiming a small, yet deeply significant, part of her autonomy.
짜장면 is more than just a popular noodle dish in Korea—it holds cultural significance tied to comfort, convenience, and key life moments. One well-known tradition is eating 짜장면 on 이삿날 (moving day). Moving is often exhausting and chaotic, leaving families too busy to cook. 짜장면, easily delivered and served in generous portions, became the go-to meal, offering both a brief pause amidst the disarray and a symbolic fresh start in a new home. Beyond moving day, it’s a staple of Korean-Chinese cuisine (중화요리), often shared with friends and family or enjoyed alone as a quick, satisfying comfort meal. 짜장면 is also famously eaten on “블랙데이” (Black Day), April 14th, by single people who didn’t receive gifts on Valentine’s Day (February 14th) or White Day (March 14th), gathering over bowls of noodles to find humor and solidarity in their singleness.
Whether marking a transition, a small milestone, or simply satisfying a craving, 짜장면 is a familiar companion to both ordinary and meaningful moments in Korean life. 먹방 (Mukbang) is a popular Korean term combining 먹다 (mukda), meaning “to eat,” and 방송 (bangsong), meaning “broadcast.” It refers to videos or live streams where people eat large amounts of food while interacting with viewers, often highlighting the enjoyment of eating. 먹방 has become a cultural phenomenon in Korea and beyond, with audiences finding comfort, entertainment, and even a sense of connection through watching others eat.
In Episode 2 of Lies Hidden in My Garden, the scene where Lim Ji-yeon’s character, Sang-eun, hurriedly eats 짜장면, 군만두, and 탕수육 after her abusive husband’s death became a notable drama 먹방 moment. Her rushed, almost desperate eating struck a chord with viewers, symbolizing both emotional release and newfound freedom after years of domestic abuse. The scene went viral, leading to the creation of the so-called “임지연 세트” (Lim Ji-yeon Set) at some Korean-Chinese restaurants, offering the same menu combination she ate—짜장면, 군만두, and 탕수육—as a single-person meal set. This reflects how dramatic 먹방 scenes can resonate deeply with viewers, sometimes even influencing food trends and restaurant menus in real life.
Here’s a link to a video featuring renowned Chinese-Korean chef 이연복 (Lee Yeon-bok) demonstrating how to make 짜장면 (Jjajangmyeon).
짜장면 요리법
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