K-Food's New Transformation: Korean Cuisine Goes New-tro

Relishing Nostalgia and Novelty

Mom & I Editorial Team

The global recognition of Korean cuisine, or K-Food, began several years ago when Korean restaurants in New York and other parts of the world were featured in the Michelin Guide. This recognition, coupled with the Korean Wave, propelled the rapid international spread of K-Food. Key to this recognition were modernized interpretations of traditional Korean dishes, simplifying complex combinations to create a 'modern Korean' image, and blending Western cooking techniques to suit international palates. 

Since 2018, a fresh trend called New-tro, combining 'new' and 'retro,' has emerged within Korean cuisine. This trend revives the emotions of the past while infusing them with contemporary flair. Beyond menus, New-tro influences restaurant interiors and accessories, offering a sense of novelty to younger generations and nostalgia to older ones. Industry experts anticipate that by 2020, New-tro Korean cuisine will further expand globally.

New-tro Cuisine Varieties

New-tro, though rooted in nostalgia, transforms past culinary experiences to align with modern tastes. Traditional Korean dishes and popular menus are reimagined, prompting cultural shifts in food preferences. Restaurants introduce New-tro-style set meals and snacks, while food companies launch retro-inspired products.

• Reimagined Traditional Dishes: Traditional Korean dining is reinvented into a modern, minimalist array.
• Nostalgic Lunchboxes: Replicating the tin lunchboxes heated on classroom stoves, these dishes bring back memories of kimchi-scented warmth.
• Grilled Pork Belly on Iron Lids: Reviving the method of grilling pork belly on iron pot lids, echoing the sizzling experience with kimchi.
• Family Roasted Chicken: The beloved roasted chicken from childhood, once a special treat, is making a comeback in its original form.
• Ramyeon and Snacks in Aluminum Pots: Evoking memories of cooking ramyeon over coal fires and group snacking after school.
• Market-Chic Twisted Donuts: Classic donuts and pastries, revived by major confectionery companies, are capturing the tastes of modern consumers.

This New-tro trend is influencing a wide array of products aimed at capturing the essence of past culinary experiences in novel ways.