www.youtube.com/embed/Zyudd5DDVEE

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Reliving a Legend: Tasting the Gukbap from Lee Myung-bak’s Iconic Presidential Ad in Nakwon-dong

Hello food lovers! After a brief hiatus from my main content, 맛집 탐방 (Matjib 탐bang – restaurant exploration), due to the recent Namsan Tonkatsu issue, I’m back with what I do best – exploring delicious restaurants. For new subscribers who might have joined after the Namsan Tonkatsu video, I want to clarify that I’m primarily a food YouTuber, not an exposé YouTuber. To my loyal subscribers, I apologize for neglecting my main content amidst recent controversies. Now, until the results of the legal action I mentioned are out, I’m returning to my roots. Today, we’re diving into the legendary Gukbap that appeared in what’s widely considered the best presidential campaign ad of all time: former President Lee Myung-bak’s 17th presidential election commercial!

This ad is celebrated across the political spectrum as a masterpiece of political advertising, and even outside of politics, it’s legendary as a “Gukbap mukbang” (eating show). At first glance, it might just seem like a video of someone eating Gukbap, but a closer look reveals its brilliance. For example, President Lee dunks Kkakdugi (radish kimchi) into his Gukbap and eats it – a technique known only to true Gukbap connoisseurs and veterans. The fact that a leading presidential candidate showcased such detail in a presidential ad, especially in a Gukbap eating scene, was incredibly impactful. Back during the 17th presidential election, I was only 21 and not particularly interested in politics, but even I remember being drawn to Gukbap every time this ad aired on TV.

Seeking the Legendary Gukbap: A Visit to Nakwon-dong Gukbap Alley

So, what does this legendary Gukbap from the ad actually taste like? Surprisingly, despite its fame, there aren’t many YouTube reviews or mukbang videos of it, likely because YouTube wasn’t as big back in 2007 during the 17th presidential election. To find out myself, I visited Nakwon-dong Gukbap Alley, the actual location of the restaurant featured in the ad.

Nakwon-dong Gukbap Alley is located right next to Nakwon Arcade. As I approached, I noticed many elderly people playing Janggi (Korean chess) in front of Tapgol Park. This reminded me of my military days when I won first place in a Janggi tournament, earning my entire barracks an extra day of vacation! I know, you might be thinking, “Why is he suddenly talking about Janggi when he’s supposed to be eating Gukbap?” Well, winning that tournament was my first and last time ever winning anything. I just wanted to brag a little. Sorry, let’s get back to the Gukbap!

Gangwondo House: The Restaurant from the Ad

Nakwon-dong Gukbap Alley is lined with several Gukbap restaurants. The one featured in President Lee Myung-bak’s ad is called Gangwondo House (강원도집), located at the very end of the alley. In the ad, the restaurant is portrayed as being run by a foul-mouthed grandmother. However, this “cursing grandma” was actually an actress hired specifically for the commercial. The real owner is different and not a cursing grandma! But, the Gukbap served in the ad is indeed made by the current owner, ensuring the taste remains authentic.

Considering the ad’s impact and the overwhelming victory in the election that followed, I was eager to taste this legendary Gukbap myself. The menu at Gangwondo House is simple: only Pork Gukbap. No need to wonder what kind of Gukbap President Lee ate! I ordered the basic Pork Gukbap for ₩6,000. When I asked the owner, “Is this the restaurant President Lee Myung-bak ate at?”, they confirmed with a smile, “Yes, that’s right!”

Tasting the Legendary Pork Gukbap

The Pork Gukbap at Gangwondo House is a rich broth with a strong perilla seed flavor, a characteristic of Gangwon-do style Gukbap. It had absolutely no porky smell, which is a common concern for many when it comes to Pork Gukbap. I also appreciated that it was a “Toryeom” Gukbap, meaning the rice is warmed in the broth before serving, resulting in a soup that isn’t overly starchy or thick.

However, there was one disappointment. As I mentioned earlier, President Lee Myung-bak famously demonstrated his Gukbap expertise by dunking Kkakdugi into his soup in the ad. I wanted to replicate this, but… there was no Kkakdugi! I asked if they had any, thinking maybe they just forgot to serve it, but they said they didn’t have any. For me personally, having Gukbap without Kkakdugi is like eating ramen without Kimchi, Jjajangmyeon without Danmuji (yellow pickled radish), or fried chicken without pickled radish.

Apart from the missing Kkakdugi, Gangwondo House is a perfectly ordinary Gukbap restaurant. But let’s be honest, President Lee probably wasn’t there for a genuine meal; it was for an ad. The restaurant’s atmosphere was more important than the actual taste for the purpose of the commercial. For me, it was a satisfying experience to finally taste the food I had craved every time I saw that ad on TV when I was 21.

Conclusion: What About the Next Presidential Election Ad?

With the 20th presidential election just four months away, I’m curious to see what kind of campaign ads we’ll get this time. Since the Gukbap ad was so effective, perhaps they should try something similar? Instead of Gukbap for the next election, how about Tonkatsu? Personally, I’d recommend “Namsan Tonkatsu 23 Beonji Wonjo” as the location!

Gangwondo House (강원도집)
Location: Nakwon-dong Gukbap Alley, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea (낙원동 국밥골목, 종로구, 서울)
Rating: ★★★☆ (3.5 out of 5 – Good, but needs Kkakdugi!)

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