Chi-Mc

A typical Chi-Mc combination

Chi-Mc or Chimaek (Korean: 치맥) is a compound word formed from Chicken and Maekju.[1][2] It refers to a combination of chicken (usually fried or spicy) as Anju and beer served around evening in many Korean restaurants,[2] including a number of specialized chains.

Origin

From the roasted chicken that appeared in early 1960s to the spicy chicken that was adapted to meet Korean tastes, Korea has imported and developed a growing variety of chicken dishes. At the same time chicken was becoming more popular, a draft beer that appeared in the 1970s also became very popular, and eventually it became common for the two to be combined as a single menu item. Moreover, the 2002 Korea–Japan World Cup triggered the sensation of Chi-Mc. Chi-Mc has had a significant impact on Korean drinking culture.[3]

Outside Korea

Chi-Mc is also popular in China because of the influence of the drama My Love From the Star, in which Cheon Song-i, the heroine, said "A snowy day is just perfect for our Chi-Mc time ..."; this was the trigger for this phenomenon. Specialty chicken shops have been more numerous in China. Uploading pictures of oneself holding a chicken in one hand and a beer in the other on the SNS became a trend.[2][4]

Nowadays, Korea is trying to be reborn as a capital of Chi-Mc.[5] Chi-Mc holds a special place between the public and the consumer.[5] In Daegu Metropolitan City, a Chi-Mc festival was held in 2012.[5] In 2013, a Chi-Mc festival in Ningbo drew some 400,000 visitors in its first three days.[5]

Significance

Chi-Mc is a profitable franchise. Demand for specialty chicken shops increased with the growing demands for chicken and beer.[4] As of March 2014 Korea had 192 chicken franchise companies. About 10% of companies are known for unique recipes.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Seoul Night Tour Gangnam (Cheongdam)". Korea Tourism Organization. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Korean TV Show Sparks Chicken and Beer Craze in China". Wall Street Journal.
  3. ↑ "[도청도설] 치맥" [Chi-Mc]. Kookje. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Seo Jung (서정), Kang (강). "중국 치맥 열풍..‘별그대’ 전지현 대사 한마디 때문에" [China is in the storm of Chi-Mc]. Chosun Media. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Woo Seok, Lee (7 August 2014). "[SS먼데이 이슈추적]치킨은 어떻게 치느님이 되었나. 치맥 문화와 산업" [Culture and Industry of Chi-Mc]. Sports Seoul. Retrieved 24 November 2014.