Why Do Koreans Grill Pork Belly on Heavy Fine Dust Days?

[mediK / HEALTH IN NEWS] On hazy days in Seoul, when the air turns thick with fine dust carried in from distant deserts and industrial zones, many Koreans head straight for the grill. It's a ritual as comforting as it is quirky: sizzling strips of samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly, 삼겹살), wrapped in lettuce leaves with garlic, kimchi, and a splash of sesame oil. The belief persists that this beloved cut of pork somehow counters the pollution clinging to the lungs. Sales of pork belly have long spiked during severe air quality alerts, a pattern observed for years whenever the skies grow heavy.

1. The Roots of a Persistent Belief

This custom traces back to the 1970s and 1980s, when coal miners in South Korea's rugged pits labored amid choking dust. They held that the rich fat in pork belly could coat the throat and help expel inhaled particles—a folk remedy passed down through generations. Over time, as fine dust from yellow sand storms and urban emissions became a modern scourge, the idea evolved and embedded itself in popular culture. Reuters and other reports have noted sharp rises in pork sales—sometimes 20 percent or more—during peak pollution periods, underscoring how deeply the notion resonates.

2. Is There Any Science Behind It?

Pork belly does offer nutritional perks: it's a good source of selenium, a mineral known to support antioxidant defenses and, in some studies, aid in binding certain heavy metals for excretion. It also provides iron, which contributes to overall respiratory health, and B vitamins that bolster the body's response to oxidative stress from pollutants. In traditional Korean medicine, there's an old principle of treating like with like—records mention pork lung as a remedy for respiratory issues like asthma.
That said, health authorities and physicians are clear-eyed about the limits. The Korea Tourism Organization and medical experts have dismissed the idea as unfounded folklore. Food travels through the digestive tract, not the lungs, they note, and any absorbed nutrients offer only marginal, indirect benefits at best. The greater concern is the high saturated fat content, which can elevate cardiovascular risks—outweighing any speculative upside from pollution exposure.



3. A Practical Guide for Visitors

For travelers drawn to South Korea's vibrant food scene, joining locals for samgyeopsal on a dusty day can feel like an authentic slice of everyday life. It's more psychological comfort than cure—a shared meal that turns adversity into conviviality. Restaurants serving it are ubiquitous, from bustling street-side spots to cozy neighborhood haunts. Expect to pay around 35,000 to 50,000 won (about $25–35) for two people, including sides and perhaps a bottle of soju.

Fine dust peaks most reliably in March and April, when yellow dust from Chinese and Mongolian deserts overlaps with domestic pollutants, sometimes blanketing the horizon in a yellowish haze. Preparation matters more than any grill-side remedy: pick up KF94 masks—the gold standard for filtering ultrafine particles—at any convenience store like GS25 or CU for 1,000 to 2,000 won each. Skip basic surgical masks; they offer far less protection.

In the end, samgyeopsal isn't a detox elixir but a cultural touchstone, a way Koreans reclaim joy amid environmental challenges. For visitors, the best defense remains commonsense precautions: a well-fitted mask outdoors, indoor activities on bad days, and perhaps that satisfying barbecue as a reward when the air clears.

Oh Ha Eun medi·K TEAM press@themedik.kr

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