How do we know we're in an authentic Korean restaurant? How can we avoid being passed off as a fat beast, now that it's so fashionable? Eunhye Choi, vice consul of the Republic of Korea in Barcelona, was kind enough to speak with me to give me some answers. The Korean population in Catalonia is tiny, around 1,140 people, but the impact of Korean tourism is enormous. In 2023, 433,000 Koreans visited Spain, and the vast majority, 325,000, chose Barcelona. Why are they so interested? There are many reasons, but one of them is football. Barça, in short. That's why Barcelona has more direct connections than Madrid. Furthermore, it should be noted that pre-pandemic figures have not yet recovered. When Koreans leave their country, they often miss their cuisine. So it's common for kimchi, this wonderful fermented cabbage they eat with their meals, to be confiscated at the airport. Since they miss its umami-filled flavors, when they travel they seek out authentic restaurants so they can kill the worm while they're away from home (even if it's only for a few days). So a first clue that we're in a 100% Korean restaurant is to notice if there are Koreans around us.