Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal '지나치게 비계가 많은' 삼겹살에 대해 거세지는 논쟁

[김우정]

최근 제주도의 한 식당에서 비계가 98%인 삼겹살 2인분과 소주, 맥주 각 1병에 15만원을 받았습니다.

삼겹살은 우리국민들의 최애식품 중 하나입니다.

최근 식품값이 폭등하면서 삼겹살에 대한 논란이 커지고 있습니다.

급기야 농림축산식품부는 삼겹살 절단부위의 지방두께가 1cm 이하로 가이드라인을 정했습니다.

Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal
'지나치게 비계가 많은' 삼겹살에 대해 거세지는 논쟁

Excessive fat content in pork belly cuts sparks online controversy, calls grow for industry oversight
삼겹살에 들어있는 과도한 지방 함량은 온라인 논란을 불러일으키고, 업계 감독에 대한 요구증가

By No Kyung-min 노경민 기자
Published : May 4, 2024 - 16:01
Korea Herald

An online poster shares a photo of fatty port belly cut on the grill in online community Bobaedream. (Bobaedream) 온라인 커뮤니티 보배드림에 비계가 많은 삼겹살을 그릴에 자른 사진을 온라인 포스터에 공유하고 있다. (보배드림)

As much as "samgyeopsal," the quintessential Korean pork belly cut, translates to three-layered meat, its deliciousness hinges on the perfect balance of fat and meat. This balance delivers a satisfyingly chewy texture bursting with juicy, meaty flavor.
삼겹인 삼겹살처럼 지방과 고기의 완벽한 조화가 그 맛을 좌우한다. 육즙이 풍부하고 육질이 풍부한 식감을 만족스럽게 살린 것이 특징이다. 이 균형은 즙이 많고 고깃덩어리 같은 맛으로 터지는 만족스러울 정도로 쫄깃한 식감을 전달한다.

In online forums in South Korea now, a heated debate is underway over just how much fat is too much in fat-rich samgyeopsal, as people share their experiences of being served cuts they deem “overly fatty” at restaurants.
현재 한국의 온라인 포럼에서는, 사람들이 식당에서 그들이 "너무 비계가 많다"고 생각하는 컷을 제공받은 경험을 공유하면서, 지방이 풍부한 삼겹살에 지방이 얼마나 많은지에 대한 뜨거운 논쟁이 진행 중이다.

The debate was sparked by an online post on the website Bobaedream last week. An anonymous user posted photos of sizzling Jeju black pig samgyeopsal at a Jeju Island restaurant. The poster claimed the cuts have a "98 percent fat content." For two servings of the fatty pork cuts and one bottle each of soju and beer, the bill was around 150,000 won ($109), the person claimed.
그 논쟁은 지난 주 보배드림 웹사이트에 올라온 온라인 게시물에 의해 촉발되었다. 한 익명의 사용자는 제주도의 한 식당에서 지글지글 제주 흑돼지 삼겹살을 찍은 사진들을 게시했다. 그 포스터는 그 컷들이 "지방 함량이 98%"라고 주장했다. 그 사람은 기름진 돼지고기 2인분과 소주와 맥주 각각 한 병에 대해, 약 15만원(109달러) 이라고 주장했다.

The poster added that the restaurant is a well-known one, garnering media attention with frequent visits from Korean celebrities.
포스터는 한국 연예인들의 잦은 방문으로 언론의 주목을 받으며 유명한 음식점이라고 덧붙였다.

As the post garnered traction, attracting both public and media interest, the restaurant owner issued an apology and said they would offer a complimentary serving of 200 grams of ogyeopsal, a five-layered cut, to restaurant consumers for one month.
이 게시물이 대중과 언론의 관심을 모두 끌자 식당 주인은 사과문을 내고 식당 소비자들에게 5단으로 자른 오겹살 200g을 한 달 동안 무료로 제공하겠다고 밝혔다.

However, the dispute over the level of fat content in samgyeopsal seems to extend beyond an isolated incident, with more people stepping forward with similar complaints.
그러나 삼겹살의 지방 함량 수준에 대한 분쟁은 더 많은 사람들이 비슷한 불만을 제기하며 나서는 등 고립된 사건을 넘어 확장되는 것으로 보인다.

On the same website Wednesday, another user posted a photo of fat-laden samgyeopsal which the person claimed was served at a restaurant in Daegu. Bewildered by what appears to be disproportionately fatty, meat-deficient cuts, the poster questioned whether it was meant to season the grill for the main barbeque. The response from staff was that it was a "delicious cut.”
수요일 같은 웹사이트에, 다른 사용자는 대구의 한 식당에서 제공되었다고 주장하는 지방이 많은 삼겹살 사진을 올렸다. 불균형적으로 지방이 많고 고기가 부족한 것으로 보이는 이 사진에 당황한 나머지, 이 포스터는 메인 바비큐용 그릴에 양념을 하기 위한 것인지에 대해 의문을 제기했다. 직원들의 반응은 "맛있는 부위"라는 것이었다.

As of Friday morning, the post has amassed around 110,000 views, with the most-liked comment stating, "As someone who runs a butcher shop, that cut leaves me speechless."
이 게시물은 28일 오전 현재 약 11만 건의 조회 수를 기록하고 있으며, "정육점집을 운영하는 사람으로서, 그 부위는 나를 말문이 막히게 만든다."는 가장 인기 있는 댓글을 달았다.

The fatty samgyeopsal controversy prompted a response from Gov. Oh Young-hun of the island province of Jeju, renowned for its black pork cuts.
기름진 삼겹살 논란은 흑돼지로 유명한 제주도의 오영훈 지사의 반응을 불러일으켰다.

At a press conference Thursday, he announced the provincial government's internal review to assess the necessity for stricter management of the livestock sector. He confirmed that relevant authorities have initiated inspections of restaurant management practices.
그는 이날 기자간담회에서 축산업 경영 강화 필요성을 평가하기 위한 도의 내부 검토 결과를 발표하고 관계 당국이 음식점 경영 실태 점검에 착수한 사실을 확인했다.

However, recognizing the difficulties in regulating private businesses, Gov. Oh also called for consideration of "differences among local food cultures."
다만 민간사업자 규제의 어려움을 인식한 오 지사는 '현지 식문화 간 차이'에 대한 고민도 당부했다.

The thickness of fat in samgyeopsal has been a long-debated topic, even prompting government intervention this year.
삼겹살에 들어있는 지방의 두께는 오랫동안 논쟁거리였고, 심지어 올해 정부의 개입을 촉발하기도 했다.

In response to upset customers about excessively fatty pork cuts sold as part of the "Samgyeopsal Day" promotions last March, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs established new guidelines in January this year for businesses in the livestock industry and store chains, limiting fat in regular pork belly cuts to less than 1 centimeter thick.
농림축산식품부는 지난 3월 '삼겹살데이' 프로모션의 일환으로 판매된 과도하게 기름진 돼지고기 절단에 대한 고객들의 불만에 대응해 올해 1월 축산업 및 점포 체인점 사업자를 대상으로 신규 가이드라인을 제정해 일반 삼겹살 절단 부위의 지방을 두께 1㎝ 이하로 제한했다.

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