Why Are Korean Mung Bean Sprouts Named After a Scholar? A Culture Train Adventure to 1400s Korea
Grab your imaginary passports, Culture Kids! In this episode, Kristen and Asher welcome their friend Senna into the kitchen to cook up a Korean side dish called sukju namul (숙주나물), better known in English as seasoned mung bean sprouts. But this isn't just a cooking lesson. Halfway through sautéing sprouts with soy sauce and sesame oil, the Culture Train whisks the kids back to 15th century Hanyang (modern-day Seoul) during the Joseon Dynasty, where they uncover the real reason this humble vegetable carries the name of a royal scholar named Shin Suk-ju.
Kids will learn how a political betrayal during a real moment in Korean history became forever linked to a fast-spoiling vegetable, and why Koreans have called mung bean sprouts "sukju namul" for hundreds of years. It's a story about food, memory, loyalty, and how history hides in the meals we eat every day.
- What mung bean sprouts (sukju namul) are and how they're prepared in Korean cooking
- The difference between how mung bean sprouts were cooked in the Joseon Dynasty versus how they're cooked today
- The true story of Korean scholar Shin Suk-ju and the royal succession crisis that changed his legacy
- How a vegetable came to be named after a real historical figure
- A hands-on family recipe families can recreate at home
Sukju Namul (Korean Seasoned Mung Bean Sprouts)
Lightly boiled mung bean sprouts, tossed with sesame oil, garlic, salt, and sesame seeds. Serve as a banchan (Korean side dish) alongside rice.
Hosted by Kristen Kim and Asher, Culture Kids Productions
Host & Producer: Kristen Kim
Co Host & Co Producer: Asher Kim
Guest Host: Senna Turin
Script Review/Academic Consultant: Elisha Li
Nonprofit Consultant: Emil Kang
Audio Engineering: Robin Lai
Music & Sound FX: Envato Elements