Bossam (Boiled Pork Wrap)

Bossam (보쌈) is a dish made from pork belly that is boiled in an aromatic broth of doenjang (soybean paste), ginger, garlic, onion, and sometimes coffee or tea to remove any gamey odor. The pork is cooked until it is extremely tender — soft enough to cut with chopsticks — then sliced and served at the table. The name 'bossam' means 'wrapped' or 'packed,' and the eating method is the heart of the experience: you take a leaf of salted napa cabbage (baechu) or fresh lettuce, add a slice of pork, kimchi (especially fresh kimchi called geotjeori), a dab of saeujeot (fermented shrimp paste), sliced garlic, and wrap it all up into a single mouthful. Bossam is typically ordered as a shared dish for a group, with the pork arranged on a large platter and surrounded by condiments. It is one of Korea's most social and interactive dining experiences.