"Us and Them" | Korean Wave, Korean Food, and Korean Culture in a U.S. Netflix Movie

"Recently, I watched the Netflix original movie '우리 사이 어쩌면' (Us and Them), which was originally titled 'Always Be My Maybe.' Even though it's an American film, the main characters are all Asian.The female lead, Sasha (Ali Wong), is Vietnamese-American, and the male lead, Marcus (Randall Park), is Korean-American. It's quite impressive that Ali Wong and Randall Park co-wrote the screenplay for the film.Sasha and Marcus, who live as neighbors in San Francisco, were childhood friends. Sasha used to tell Marcus, 'If you cook the noodles, I'll sit next to you.'In the beginning of the movie, Sasha grills Spam as a side dish. I also have memories of eating Spam as a banchan (side dish) in my lunchbox when I was young."

"Next door, Marcus' mother, Judy, is cooking kimchi stew. Sasha spent a lot of time alone as her parents were busy, and she often spent time with Judy, who is Marcus' Korean mother.Judy emphasizes that although kimchi stew is simple, using good ingredients is crucial. Hearing a kimchi stew recipe in an American movie felt quite remarkable."

"Judy mentions that Koreans use scissors everywhere. She hands Sasha a pair of scissors and asks her to cut the green onions.(I'm not sure if they mention the distinction between cooking scissors and regular scissors used in Korea.)"

"When Sasha and Marcus become adults, Korean food continues to symbolize their lives. Sasha becomes a star chef with multiple restaurants and introduces 'Judy's Cuisine.'Among the dishes, there are kimchi pancakes and mung bean pancakes served as appetizers. Next to them, you can also see kimchi bibimbap and mountain vegetable bibimbap. I appreciate that the dishes are labeled with their Korean names. It's heartening to see the increasing recognition of Korean cuisine."Note: If you have specific questions about the distinction between cooking scissors and regular scissors or any other cultural nuances, feel free to ask.

"Sasha Tran, LA's hottest new chef, has a Korean-American boyfriend. Instead of her childhood crush Marcus, she's dating entrepreneur Brandon Choi (played by Daniel Dae Kim).Daniel Dae Kim is well known to us for his line 'I've been kept in the dark till now' from the show 'Lost.'"Note: If you have further questions or need more information, feel free to ask!

It seems that in the eyes of Americans, there is an image of a 'sexy and handsome Korean Eric statue.' Daniel Dae Kim is an actor known for his well-defined jawline and well-maintained physique, which are quite prominent traits.Please note that perceptions can vary widely among individuals, and not everyone may hold the same opinion.

The appearance of Keanu Reeves in the Netflix original movie "우리 사이 어쩌면" (Always Be My Maybe) seems to have a similar style, perhaps coinciding with the release of John Wick 3.

I envy you. Keanu Reeves is personally one of my favorite actors as well. I've been eagerly waiting for the next installment of "Constantine," but it's been a gap of 15 years already.

While Sasha has become a "celebrity chef," her childhood friend and neighbor Marcus works as an air conditioning installation and repair technician, assisting his father.

His main profession is being the vocalist and songwriter for the band "Hello Peril." Randall Park, who played the role of Marcus, is indeed one of the recognizable Korean-American actors, along with Daniel Dae Kim, John Cho, Steven Yeun, Ken Jeong, and others. He has appeared in various roles such as playing Kim Jong-un in "The Interview," FBI agent Jimmy Woo in "Ant-Man and The Wasp," and Dr. Stephen Shin in "Aquaman."

In a Korean-style jjimjilbang (sauna), Marcus and his father push and pull on each other. Marcus's father reflects upon hearing that Sasha has also opened a restaurant in San Francisco. They both wished each other success, as they cared for each other's well-being.Interestingly, San Francisco doesn't have a designated Koreatown. It's reported to only have a Chinatown and Japantown. This might explain why Korean-style spas or restaurants are often found in the Japantown or Chinatown areas.Although San Francisco has a long history with its Korean community, it's unfortunate that a distinct Koreatown hasn't emerged. Similarly, recent news indicates that Koreatown in Los Angeles has faced challenges with the formation of tent encampments and slum-like conditions.While Korean culture's influence is expanding, it's a reality that the community's cohesion and political power might still be relatively weaker compared to Chinese or Japanese communities.

It's certainly heartening that Korean culture and cuisine are becoming well-known and popular in American and European societies. Particularly, K-pop, represented by BTS, has been a significant phenomenon.Thanks to the "BTS Effect," the number of tourists visiting Korea has increased by nearly a million, and the economic impact of BTS has surpassed 5 trillion won. I remember reading articles about these impressive figures.

Even though Ali Wong, a Vietnamese-American, wrote the screenplay for "우리 사이 어쩌면" (Always Be My Maybe), the movie primarily features Korean food and culture.From dishes like kimchi jjigae, mung bean pancakes, and bibimbap to experiences like Korean-style spas and K-pop dance practices, along with the presence of handsome Korean-American actors, Korean culture takes center stage. We are living in a time when the Hallyu wave, which originated in Korea but spread beyond Asia to North America and Europe, is prevalent.Seeing these changes reflected even in American Netflix movies is truly heartwarming and enjoyable for Koreans, as it signifies the expansion of Korean influence in global entertainment and culture.