Chimaek

Chimaek is the pairing of fried chicken and beer served as anju in the evening in many South Korean restaurants, including a number of specialized chains. The name blends the Korean words for chicken and beer, and it has become one of the most recognizable forms of Korean nightlife.

History

Chimaek as it is known today did not exist in the Joseon era, although some of its components did. The 1459 cookbook Sangayorok recorded pogye, a stir-fried chicken dish rather than a fried one, and mentioned maekju, a barley-based drink somewhat similar to beer. These elements were not combined and were forgotten until they were rediscovered in the late 2010s.

Modern chimaek is generally thought to date from the late twentieth century, though its exact time and place of origin are hard to pin down. South Korea first imported roasted chicken, which grew popular from the early 1960s, and later adapted spicier versions to local tastes. Meanwhile, draft beer became fashionable in the 1970s, and it became common to serve the two together. The 2002 Korea–Japan World Cup gave the trend a decisive boost, as people gathered in public parks before large screens, dressed in red, with chicken and beer.

From Korea, chimaek spread to China through the drama My Love from the Star, in which the heroine mentions it in a scene. Chicken shops have since multiplied there, and posting photos holding chicken in one hand and beer in the other became a popular trend.

Culture

Chimaek is part of everyday social life in Korea, especially for watching football matches and for gatherings of friends and colleagues at the end of the day. Specialized fried chicken chains have multiplied since 2002, and most offer both the plain version, known as huraideu, and spicy versions with yangnyeom sauce.

The term has also become a cultural and tourist draw. Chimaek festivals have been held in several cities, including Daegu, which hosted one in 2012, and Ningbo in China, which drew some 400,000 visitors in its first three days in 2013. Korea seeks to present itself as a chimaek capital and to promote its food culture abroad.