By fining restaurants for the way kimchi and other fermented foods are prepared, the Health Department is essentially forcing us to dissolve an ancient practice that is at the core of Korean cuisine.

WSJ: Restaurants: City Failing on Kimchi

The crispy pork belly, a staple of Korean cuisine called samgyeopsal, is intensely rich, and silky chocolate mousse is served up in tiny traditional kimchi pots made from chocolate, which are decorated with cake crumbs and edible flowers.

BBC: Korean food goes high-end in Seoul

Chinese cuisine is the most popular, but years of Japanese occupation, recent Korean arrivals and the influence of the US add up to a rich menu.

BBC: Musical destinations: Taipei, Taiwan