George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 36

< Episode 35 >

Korean traditional food is generally categorized into pre- and post-Japanese colonial period. Strictly speaking, this applies mainly to ‘royal court cuisine,’ but modern Korean food largely draws from the research of the Institute of Royal Cuisine, so the distinction isn’t significant.

Historically, the foundation of modern royal court cuisine was laid by Hwang Hye-seong, the successor of Han Hui-soon, a court lady who served King Gojong and King Sunjong. However, some now question the authenticity of the royal court cuisine established in modern times, though these concerns haven’t gained much traction due to a lack of authoritative support.

Gukbap [rice soup] was entirely separate from this influence. Its origins are unclear, but since it emerged in modern times, its roots are relatively well-defined. While adding rice to soup has been practiced for millennia, the concept of serving soup and rice as a meal outside the home originated in the late Joseon Dynasty.

So, the point is.

‘Tsk, tsk! Instead of pondering that, have another bowl of hot Gukbap!’

The bodyguards were waiting outside. Despite their attempts to blend in, their Western appearance made them conspicuous. Having such large men around was practically announcing, ‘Attention! The President of the United States of America is right here!’

The exterior was different, but the interior felt familiar. The aroma of Gukbap filled the air, evoking a sense of nostalgia. However, it was strange to see the grandmother looking 18 years younger, now a middle-aged woman. Yet, paradoxically, one could say that nothing had changed except for the people.

‘I heard it was traditional, but they really haven’t changed anything.’

“What is it, a foreigner?”

The Gukbap restaurant was in a secluded location, so foreigners rarely visited. However, the redevelopment boom near the alley in 2019 increased foot traffic, leading to occasional visits from foreigners who had heard about it. This is a hidden gem. A *mat-jib* [a popular, delicious restaurant].

“Auntie, one Seolleongtang, please.”

‘At this moment, I am not George W. Bush. I am a lone hyena prowling the foothills in search of Gukbap.’

So, it’s okay to use some Korean here, right?

“Oh my, how can a foreigner speak our language so well?”

Even though she looked younger, she still possessed the wisdom of her years. Although addressed as “auntie,” she was at the peak of her middle-aged experience. The auntie feigned surprise while diligently preparing the Seolleongtang [ox bone soup].

If Seolleongtang takes more than 10 minutes to arrive in a small restaurant, something is wrong. Everything was ready within 5 minutes, and the earthenware pot of Seolleongtang and *Seokbakji* [cubed radish kimchi, crunchier than regular *kkakdugi*] were placed on Bush’s table. He preferred Seokbakji with Gukbap because of its superior crunchiness.

He always ate it without fully appreciating it, but experiencing it across time and space made him understand why it was called Seolleongtang (雪濃湯) – the soup was as white and thick as snow.

‘I’m starting to get hungry.’

What started as a mental craving was now a physical demand from his stomach. It was practically a late-night snack.

‘Salt three times, no chili paste.’

It wasn’t that he never used chili paste. In fact, he often added it. But this restaurant’s Seolleongtang soup was special. It deserved special treatment!

He finally took the first spoonful he had been anticipating. The essence of the beef bone broth permeated his taste buds, transforming into an electrical signal that surged through his body, pushing the chemical reaction to its limit.

‘Kuh-ahh, Fuck Yeah!’

He recalled an internet story about a foreigner who, upon tasting Gukbap, exclaimed all sorts of Gukbap-related phrases. The story’s veracity was questionable, but Bush chose to believe it.

The generous portion was the same as he remembered. Wait, wasn’t this not the old days? Then this generosity must be eternally immutable! The price was only 2,000 won, and everything from the soup to the meat was plentiful. Of course, this price was possible because the auntie owned the building.

‘Especially these thin noodles! Swirl them up with chopsticks and eat them all at once without cutting them!’

They slid down his throat with the soup, leaving a savory sensation. The aftertaste lingered until the sour and sweet Seokbakji arrived. He stirred the noodles a few times with his chopsticks, but sadly, they were gone after that one movement.

“This guy is fluent in Korean but doesn’t know how to eat. Seolleongtang is eaten with rice!”

‘That’s right! I ordered Seolleongtang, but why am I not eating it properly! Of course, you eat it with rice!’

He was so engrossed in savoring the thin noodles that he had forgotten. Looking at the cloudy soup, he could almost hear the Seolleongtang saying, ‘What are you waiting for? Hurry up and mix it in!’

Seolleongtang with rice mixed in was plentiful but somehow looked meager.

‘I should have left at least a few thin noodles! I ruined everything!’

Of course, his wallet wasn’t thin, and another bowl of Seolleongtang wasn’t a big deal. No, all of it! Should I buy it all up? I could just buy the store so they can’t even open their mouths.

But that would be meaningless. Some foods are best enjoyed when it’s cold, and others are perfect when it’s hot. It was only meaningful to him if he ate it like this! Just like the saying that hunger is the best sauce, food depends on the eater’s mindset.

However, only a bowl of rice would have immunity from that solemn and majestic rule.

“Auntie.”

Bush is hungry.

“Give me one more bowl of rice here.”

* * *

“Huh?”

While the man in George Bush’s guise was praising Seolleongtang, Jiang Zemin was receiving almost unilateral notice. North Korea was preparing for a nuclear test. This was nothing new. Information about nuclear tests always came through intelligence, so it wasn’t particularly surprising. China and Russia had assisted with nuclear development, so this notice was like a student presenting a report card to their parents.

However, this time, the intensity was different. They were already depleting their foreign currency reserves to develop nuclear missiles, but this time, they seemed to be emptying everything to invest in nuclear weapons.

‘Did they find enlightenment in the shape of atomic nuclei splitting?’

Jiang Zemin inwardly ridiculed Kim Jong-il.

Kim Jong-il, unlike Kim Il-sung, harbored resentment towards China and sought to distance himself from its influence. In fact, Kim Il-sung himself didn’t seem particularly fond of China, as evidenced by the massive purge in August 1956, which involved burning books and persecuting scholars under the guise of the Book Arrangement Project, ultimately promoting the Juche ideology to establish North Korea as the Kim family’s kingdom.

Many pro-China and pro-Russian figures disappeared during the purge, but not all of them could have truly died. Even if they had, China’s size is immense. North Korea relied on China for 90% of its foreign trade.

Even if China were halved, the country bordering North Korea would still be China, maintaining the dependence. The unchanging dependence ultimately meant no change in the projected influence.

Therefore, North Korea remains directly and indirectly influenced by China today.

“That’s right! That’s it!”

The reason that crazy American cowboy flew to South Korea on a fighter plane must be that! Enlightenment seemed to dawn on Jiang Zemin through the fog in his mind.

Until now, the puzzle pieces hadn’t aligned, preventing him from assembling them. Like Lu Xun trapped in the Stone Tablet Eight Formation, he had been unilaterally attacked and pointlessly drained his mental strength. But finally, Hwang Seung-eon smiled at Jiang Zemin and revealed the solution.

“This guy is the cause of my headache!”

The fiery anger that had risen from his *dantian* [energy center in the lower abdomen] finally reached his brain, and Jiang Zemin, half-crazed, slammed his fist on the desk. Consequently, various expensive objects tumbled off, but Jiang Zemin paid no attention.

“If you’re going to do it, hide it until you succeed! Why are you acting rashly and exacerbating my migraine, you foolish nuclear idiot!”

He wasn’t against nuclear weapons. In fact, he hoped North Korea would possess formidable asymmetric power as soon as possible. Only then could the United States’ influence be expelled from the Western Pacific, right?

‘But you have to do it while watching the situation!’

What kind of situation is it now? The United States, the supposed world order, was in turmoil with a mad president, the Middle East was embroiled in something between a new Cold War and a hot war, Russia and Europe were happily stirring the cauldron of chaos, and East Asia was perpetually fulfilling its role as the world’s powder keg.

Why is the world’s powder keg a powder keg? It’s called a powder keg because gunpowder explodes if touched incorrectly. To prevent ignition, tremendous administrative and diplomatic power must be exerted. But now, that crazy cowboy was playing with fire in the powder keg.

‘Tsk, the problem would be solved if all the countries in Asia were attributed to the Central Plains as before. There weren’t times like this when China had a mandate from heaven. The only ones who ran wild were always the northern barbarians.’

There was a golden age when everything was smooth and peaceful. Of course, it was peaceful only for the Chinese, but at least when they confined the world to China and treated everything else as barbarians, there was no need to worry about diplomatic issues. No matter what nonsense was heard, it could end with ‘So what?’

It may be arrogant, but that arrogance was justified. Then, suddenly, that image strangely overlapped with the current United States, and Jiang Zemin felt bitter and sighed.

“What should I do with this?”

I’ve complained a lot, so now I have to find a solution, right?

‘Even if I tell them to delay it now, it’s already too late. Should I accelerate it instead?’

However, Jiang Zemin quickly dismissed this. If he did that, there would be no solution. If the United States targeted North Korea with determination, China, still a level below in strength, had no chance of winning head-on. Of course, China would avoid a direct confrontation as it was a nuclear power, but it would lead to a trade war.

A short-term trade war would be manageable, but a long-term one would set China back at least 10 years. Or they might not progress at all. In 10 or 20 years, they could at least attempt to resist in the trade sector. At the current level, that was impossible.

‘But if I leave it alone, that’s also a problem.’

Ironically, Jiang Zemin returned to square one. He repeated only questions in the prison made of questions. However, unlike the first time, there were proper questions and a clear direction, so Jiang Zemin was finally able to reach the most reasonable answer.

‘Wouldn’t it be enough to just support denuclearization in name only?’

Interestingly, Jiang Zemin’s solution was very similar to China’s approach in 2019. History is said to repeat itself, but who would have known it would be so similar?

“That’s it!”

Around this time, ‘he’ was filming a *mukbang* [eating broadcast] of boiled pork slices after Gukbap, but ended up searching for digestive medicine in his hotel room due to a late-night stomach ache from overeating.