Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Properties Overflowing with Demand
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Meanwhile, in Korean online communities.
The atmosphere there could only be described as a full-blown festival.
Kim Ji-hoon's appearance on the Colbert Show.
Especially his final remark.
"There are so many men in Korea who are devoted to their families and romantic like me... Korean men are plenty attractive as marriage partners too."
The clip containing that statement had made its way from American communities back to Korea in a flash.
Of course, his bold praise for the excellence of Korean cuisine had thoroughly satisfied Korean national pride.
But that defense of them was on another level entirely.
The community boards began flooding with posts worshiping him.
Among Kim Ji-hoon's YouTube subscribers, there were plenty of Korean men.
They had seen it.
Themselves, despised in every way in this land called Hell Joseon.
Kim Ji-hoon, who had become America's hero, boldly defending them on American TV.
For men treated as Loser Males, it was pure catharsis.
Of course, there were posts pouring cold water on their festival.
Meanwhile, voices of caution from another angle emerged.
In the end, community sentiment settled on gratitude.
America has over 130,000 elementary, middle, and high schools.
Naturally, there are nearly 6,000 universities too.
A total of 140,000 schools.
Each with anywhere from 500 to 2,000 students.
Multiply that by the daily cafeteria budget...
It was an enormous market.
A fixed number of customers every day.
A dream market with no worry of ingredients spoiling.
And California, where Hansang had taken root.
This state was famous even within America for having tons of schools.
Over 300 universities, and thousands of elementary, middle, and high schools.
Berkeley was Ji-hoon's home turf too.
After the broadcast aired.
Hansang's school meal division let out happy screams.
"Uwaaaah! The inquiry calls won't stop!"
"President!! Too many inquiry calls!"
CEO John was flustered.
He hadn't expected a single TV appearance to cause such an influx.
But Hansang couldn't take on all those schools' meals right away either.
They didn't have enough nutritionists and kitchen staff.
Their systems were just starting to take shape.
But John had overlooked something.
In any country, parents' power is formidable.
Parents who saw the broadcast flooded their kids' schools with "cafeteria change" inquiries the very next day.
"At the same price, we can feed them food that fresh and healthy!"
"Let's switch our school to that Hansang right now!"
Who would dare oppose?
The schools felt the same.
With long-standing parent complaints quelled and a better alternative at the same price, there was no reason to refuse.
"Uhahaha! Praise me more, you lot!"
I was checking Korean community reactions after the broadcast.
What they call "reading the daughters."
Watching people praise me was endlessly entertaining.
Honestly, there are no bigger pushovers than Korean guys.
If you treat foreign women the way you do back home, they'll say, "What kind of sweet guy is this?" Korean men are the kings of simp behavior abroad.
Trashed in their own country, but the moment they step out, they're hot commodities overflowing with demand.
I just paved the way for them.
Gender imbalance makes women valuable?
Fine.
I'll create a world where the gender ratio flips!
Once men become scarce, the laws might change a bit.
Hmm... In Hell Joseon, they'd probably ban international marriages though.
Well, if everyone's happy, isn't that good?
I strolled New York streets lost in such idle thoughts.
Since I came to New York, I decided to stay an extra day before heading back.
Ji-min was home, so Lily was in good hands.
We talked on the phone often too.
The reason for coming to New York was separate.
The Korean restaurants that had entered first.
I wanted to check out the businesses that came from Korea firsthand.
Benchmarking wasn't bad, and I wanted to meet the owners and hear their stories.
"Wow~ So many customers?"
I stood in front of Hwa, the most famous Korean BBQ spot in New York.
A high-end restaurant with the identity of "Korean steakhouse," hugely popular in New York.
It even had a Michelin star, so I really wanted to visit.
'Would've been nice to come with Lily...'
"Table for two~"
I'd come to eat with Luke, a company employee.
With a night flight back to California, we visited early.
Guided inside, the walls were covered in photos and signatures of countless stars.
As a celeb hotspot, the service was top-notch.
Just like in Korea, staff grilled the meat for you.
I ordered the Assorted Meat Hansang set.
Various premium beef cuts, rice, stew, egg custard, side dishes, wrap veggies, and even ice cream. A perfectly composed Hansang came out.
'Wow~ Nice spread.'
It looked clean and appetizing.
Big hits succeeded for a reason.
But our customer bases were totally different anyway.
I immediately scooped up some radish doenjang soup.
'Hmm... Doenjang's a bit lacking.'
It tasted like they used store-bought.
Doenjang was still best from home.
"You must be Korean?"
The Korean-American lady grilling the meat spoke to me in Korean.
"Yes. Are you?"
"Ah~ I'm Korean-American. Hohoho. Here on vacation?"
"No, I live in California. Just came to New York for business."
"Oh really? A fun Korean-American. Hohoho, thought you looked new, sorry."
"No worries. Business is booming, huh. Korean food must be popular."
"Oh my~ You bet. Especially the last two days, Korean spots in New York are packed. Some... broadcast made everyone come? Hohoho, so all the Korean restaurant owners must be swamped now."
Heh heh.
This was my effect?
Still, other Korean eateries benefiting made me quietly proud.
"Here~ Try it now~! It's really good with green onion salad!"
At the staff's words, I wrapped meat in green onion salad and took a bite.
Mmm~ Delicious.
They used good salt too.
"Great. Tasty."
"Hohoho, eat up. Ring the bell if you need anything!"
The staff moved to other duties.
"Luke, how is it?"
"Tasty?"
Luke was devouring the meat.
Suits his taste, I guess.
Well, grilling at the table like this is delicious.
As we ate heartily, I spotted a Korean-looking man in the distance giving instructions to staff.
He went table to table, checking if anything was needed.
'Working hard. Full of passion.'
Yeah, you need that zeal to succeed in New York.
Success always has its reasons.
As we ate away, the man approached our table.
"Hello? Anything missing?"
He spoke fluent English.
"No, all good."
I replied deliberately in Korean.
His eyes widened slightly, then he smiled.
"Korean, huh. I'm Simon Lee, owner of Hwa. Glad you're satisfied."
"Yes. Wanted to come forever, so I stopped by while in New York. Sleek place, great food. No wonder it's popular."
"Haha, embarrassing. Worked hard for it. Want some service? Anything you'd like?"
"No, fine. But, do you use store-bought doenjang by chance?"
"Ah! Doenjang? Yes, we import commercial from Korea. Is... the taste off?"
Simon Lee looked worried.
"Oh~ No. Just curious. Hard to make traditionally here."
"Haha, yeah. Lots hate the smell, so tough. Are you... in food service? Chef?"
He sniffed out the industry vibe from my question.
"Ah, yes. Run a restaurant in California too. Came to see how you do it. Haha."
"Oh man, fellow industry! Korean food?"
Simon casually sat in the chair at my table.
"Yes. Started a few years ago after coming from Korea, small spot in Berkeley."
"Berkeley? Hmm... Huh?"
His eyes suddenly widened.
"Babsang! That's Babsang, right?"
Huh?
It's so far away, how'd he know?
Just one main location too.
"Uh... Yeah. Babsang. How'd you know?"
"How could I not!"
He looked at me again and clapped.
"Now I see it! Berkeley's hero! Mr. Kim Ji-hoon! Wow~ Such an honor to have you here!"
Simon Lee welcomed me enthusiastically.
Why?
"Haha... What?"
I said awkwardly.
"Thanks to you, Mr. Kim, the status of us Korean food folks has skyrocketed! Didn't catch the live show, but rewatched your Colbert appearance. Man~ The pride in Korean food just surged."
Long time in America, great reactions.
"Embarrassing. Oh! Our fields are totally different, so not here to benchmark, don't worry."
"Haha, benchmark all you want! Folks like you making Korean food familiar to the masses benefit high-end spots like us too. But... from your doenjang comment earlier, you make your own?"
"Yes. I ferment soy sauce and doenjang myself."
"Ugh... Jealous. Must taste way better than store-bought. We use tons of soy for seasoned ribs... Honestly, big difference? Wanna up our quality but no way. Be frank."
At Simon's earnest plea, I answered honestly.
"Yes... Huge gap from commercial. Fermentation depth is totally different."
"Ooh... Could I get some later? Wanna try in our menu."
"Hmm... Sure, can't send much since we use it, but a bit yes."
Owner with passion for food, wanted to help.
Heard he's ex-chef, had that chef look craving good ingredients.
"But... how'd you learn to make jang? Not easy."
"Ah, jang? My dad's Kim Sung-tae, Korea's master jang artisan."
"......Pardon?"
"Ah, wouldn't know. Famous in Korea. Learned from him since kid."
"Ah."
Simon Lee's eyes went huge.