1. Where does the tradition of eating tofu after being released from prison come from? π
(Iβve seen this referenced in a few K-Dramas so am curious to learn the origin. Thank you for your ever-insightful newsletters!)
This is honestly such an interesting question, I'm so glad you guys are curious about these different cultural practices because it makes me feel like you're really getting into the culture below the surface! π
So I knew the answer to this question on the surface and most people will know the answer as: The whiteness of plain tofu represents purity, being able to start over with a clean slate. This is the overall and most broad reason! In many cultures the color white is associated with cleanliness/purity and it is the same in Korea! π (We're just talking about pure colors here I promise). So the tofu being fully white and plain represents the prisoner being able to start over their life fresh and pure!
BUT, when looking up the answer to make sure I was right-- I actually discovered other reasons for this! They are:
1. Eating 콩λ°₯ --> eating tofu
There is a common phrase in Korean when someone is going to prison you say they are going to eat 콩λ°₯ (bean rice). Because during the Japanese occupation of Korea, they would mix beans into the rice in order to make it more filling but cut costs. π€ People still use this phrase often and you've probably heard it in many dramas as well. If you didn't know tofu is actually made from beans as well, but tofu is a very rich food. The base ingredient is the same yet tofu represents something rich and healthy rather than something cheap so eating it represents the transition from eating 콩λ°₯ --> eating tofu !!! π€
2. Healthiness of Tofu
As mentioned above, Tofu is a really healthy food! Because it is rich in nutrients and especially rich in protein (which prisoners were usually deprived of because it was expensive), it was served to those released! Prisoners usually left prison malnourished back then so giving them a protien rich food was for their health! β€οΈ
That explanation got so much longer than I thought but there is so much history in it! π Hope I answered your question <3 | 
