Record of Youth Jeyuk Bokkeum (제육볶음)
Why this food?
Jeyuk bokkeum is the ultimate Korean comfort food—tender pork belly tossed with gochugaru (red chili flakes), garlic, and a touch of sweetness in under 20 minutes. It's what real K-drama characters eat when cameras aren't rolling: cheap, filling, and dangerously addictive. This is the street food that fuels entire industries in Seoul.
🇰🇷 K-Culture Tip
Jeyuk bokkeum became a staple of Korean working-class culture in the 1980s-90s, when pork belly was affordable protein for students, construction workers, and yes—hungry models grinding through auditions. It's often paired with soju at pojangmacha (tent bars), making it the unofficial anthem of 'the struggle.' In K-dramas, a character eating jeyuk bokkeum signals authenticity and ambition.
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Substitute Ingredients
All available at Walmart
| Original | Substitute |
|---|---|
Pork belly 돼지 삼겹살 | Pork Belly Sliced Walmart Great Value or Smithfield Ask butcher to slice thin. If unavailable, use pork shoulder cut into bite-sized pieces—it's less traditional but works. Shop at Walmart |
Gochujang (red chili paste) 고추장 | CJ Gochujang or Lee Kum Kee Chili Paste CJ or Lee Kum Kee If unavailable, blend sriracha (2 tbsp) + sugar (1 tsp) + water (1 tsp). Not identical but creates similar heat & sweetness. Shop at Walmart |
Soy sauce 간장 | Kikkoman Soy Sauce or Walmart Great Value Kikkoman or Great Value Any soy sauce works. Korean tamari is slightly saltier—use slightly less if substituting. Shop at Walmart |
🛒 Can't find it at Walmart? Try a Korean grocery store
Your Shopping List
Walmart edition
- 1.5 lbs Pork Belly Sliced
- 2 tablespoons CJ Gochujang or Lee Kum Kee Chili Paste
- 1 tablespoon Kikkoman Soy Sauce or Walmart Great Value
Instructions
- 1
Step 1: Cut 1.5 lbs pork belly into thin bite-sized pieces (ask the butcher to slice it, or freeze for 1 hour first to make cutting easier).
- 2
Step 2: Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add pork and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until edges brown and render fat releases.
- 3
Step 3: Add minced garlic and red chili flakes, stir constantly for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. The kitchen should smell dangerously good right now.
- 4
Step 4: Pour in the sauce (2 tablespoons gochujang + 1 tablespoon sugar + 1 tablespoon soy sauce + splash of water mixed together). Toss pork to coat completely and cook for 3-4 minutes until sauce clings to meat.
- 5
Step 5: Taste and adjust—add more gochujang for heat, sugar for sweetness, or soy sauce for depth. Serve immediately over steamed rice while it's still sizzling.
