I recently went to see Haribo Kimchi by director Jaha Koo, the recipient of the International Ibsen Award. Back in 2023 during SPAF (Seoul Performing Arts Festival), I desperately wanted to see his Hamartia Trilogy, but I couldn't make it work due to my schedule. Hearing about his recent award made me regret missing it even more. Fortunately, I saw that Haribo Kimchi was being staged in Amsterdam this year and booked my ticket immediately. Since they were hosting an artist talk (Talk with the Audience) after the Wednesday performance, I stayed until the very end and headed home late—despite having an exam in just two days. (I haven't opened a single book yet—oops)
First Impressions and Atmosphere
Before seeing the show, the title Haribo Kimchi was so peculiar that I couldn't even guess what it would be about. I simply assumed it might involve Germany because of the name "Haribo," and based on the production photos, I figured it would involve food using a Pojangmacha (Korean street food stall) setting.
The performance begins by showing footage of Seoul and visually establishing the Pojangmacha space before "opening" the stall for business. Two audience members are invited onto the stage to be served Korean food, which marks the start of the story. Director Koo weaves the narrative through a mix of live storytelling while cooking and video projections.
A Sensory Journey
The stories cover anecdotes from living abroad, life in Korea, and family history, effectively capturing specific fragments of Korean history and common experiences of the diaspora. The olfactory elements were particularly stimulating. Among all the dishes prepared on stage, the smell of Kimchijeon (kimchi pancake) was undoubtedly the most powerful. While the scent of kimchi itself is strong, the fragrant aroma of it frying in oil really whetted the appetite. Furthermore, seeing Somaek (soju and beer mix) triggered a strong thirst—though I suspect that’s a specific craving only those familiar with the drink can truly feel. The show also featured electronic music and videos of snails and eel robots "singing," which was both cute and surreal. After the show, audiences get to have the chance to taste Somaek and all the other food he made. Definitely something the audiences would have been waiting for the whole time.
Reflections on Diaspora and "Jelliness"
To be honest, as a Korean person—especially one living abroad like the director—I haven't fully processed how I should interpret this piece, nor how a non-Korean audience might perceive it. I wonder if I lacked the necessary sensibility or if I viewed the performance too superficially.
During the talk with the audience, the director discussed the concept of Diaspora and "Jelliness." The questions were mostly about the director himself or about other shows so sadly I do not have a lot to share about this show specifically. Anyway, I would love to explore these themes further. I truly hope I get the chance to see his upcoming work, Born to be K to be Pop, next year!
