Are you watching Typhoon Family, the No.1 Korean drama on Netflix right now? Set in the 1990s, the K drama features more traditional Korean dishes than modern fusion food. Today, we’re exploring the Korean foods that appear in Typhoon Family and you’ll even find some recipes along the way, so you can enjoy these K-drama dishes right at home!

Plot of Typhoon Family

Typhoon Family is set during South Korea’s 1997 IMF crisis. The main character, Kang Taepoong, inherits his late father’s company, Typhoon Company, but the business faces bankruptcy due to the financial meltdown. Determined to revive his father’s dream, Taepoong works tirelessly to save the company.

The IMF era was one of the most challenging times in Korea’s economic history. Many companies went bankrupt, and countless people lost their jobs and savings. Yet, despite the financial hardship, it was also a time when Koreans showed deep warmth and unity — supporting each other with care and compassion. My own parents went through that period, overcoming tough times by sharing food, kindness, and love with family and neighbors.

In Korea, warmth and love are often expressed through food bringing home-cooked meals to someone sick or offering a tonic drink to a tired friend. Through Typhoon Family, let’s explore the Korean dishes featured in the drama and feel the heartfelt spirit of that time together.

Korean Food in Typhoon Family

Episode 1

Sundae Guk (Korean Blood Sausage Soup) 순댓국

On Taepoong’s way home, he spots his father’s back at a hangover soup restaurant. In Korea, there’s a popular type of dish called gukbap, where soup like sundae guk or haejangguk is served in a hot stone bowl with rice added directly into the soup. Judging by the menu listing sundae guk, Taepoong’s father is eating it while drinking soju. Eating gukbap and soju alone shows that his father is troubled and facing a difficult time with the company.

What is Sundae Guk?

Sundae guk is a rich soup made by simmering pork bones and meat, with additions like pork blood sausage (sundae), heart, and other pork offal. Sundae is pork intestine stuffed with meat or noodles, similar to Western black pudding. The soup is flavored with shrimp sauce, perilla seed powder, and seasoning sauce, and is served with rice mixed directly into the broth.

Gyeran Mari & Dubu Jorim 계란말이 & 두부조림

Gyeran mari (Korean rolled omelette) and dubu jorim (braised tofu) are classic Korean home-style side dishes. Oh Miseon packs a variety of side dishes to visit the hospitalized company president. This is meant to support the family taking care of him. In Korea, it is common to bring drinks or snacks when visiting someone in the hospital.

What are Gyeran Mari and Dubu Jorim?

Gyeran mari is a Korean-style egg roll made by rolling eggs in a pan, often as a side dish. Dubu jorim is tofu braised in a soy sauce-based seasoning. It’s common to add chili powder to make the dish a bit spicy.

Gyeran Mari Recipe

Gyeran mari is one of the easiest and quickest side dishes to make at home. You only need eggs, but you can also add green onions or carrots. My Korean mom used to make gim gyeran mari (egg roll with seaweed). This is the recipe for that version — gyeran mari with seaweed.

Episode 2

Hongsi (Persimmon) 홍시

The day before the company president’s funeral, a large persimmon appears — this variety is called daebong in Korea. Persimmons are a typical winter fruit in Korea.

Yukgaejang (Spicy Beef Soup) 육개장

At Korean funerals, yukgaejang is often served to guests as a main meal. Drinks like cola and soju are commonly placed on the table alongside the food.

What is Yukgaejang?

Yukgaejang is a spicy Korean soup made by shredding beef and simmering it with vegetables like green onions and bracken. Originally considered a restorative health food, it is now a common guk (soup) served to guests at Korean funerals.

Lemon Soju 레몬소주

While talking about discovering the safe, the two characters drink alcohol. In the 1990s, fruit soju, especially lemon soju, was very popular. Lemon syrup was mixed with soju, served with lemon slices and ice. Nowadays, there are more flavored sojus like grapefruit or peach, but back in the 90s, bars made and served fruit soju themselves.