[HanCinema Korea's Diary] Fussy Eaters Beware! McDelivery in Korea�

Published on 2012/06/16

Among the large number of foreigners that come to Korea each year, you will find those that are perhaps not as blown away by the local cuisine as one would hope. These poor souls struggle to piece together a diet similar to what they enjoyed back in their home country. They struggle to enjoy, or simply stomach, some of the unique flavours that make up a typical Korea diet. The more avid and determined of these picky eaters will persevere and target the scattered stores and supermarkets that stock foreign food items, in the process forking out that extra cash to satisfy their rigid and inflexibly taste buds. However, for those who have given up on mimic their home diet, or are just too lazy; Korea has a dangerous temptation that might have them reaching for the phone more often than they would like to admit.

Service with a smile

Welcome to McDonalds delivery! Yes, you heard that correctly, McDonalds Korea will delivery your order right to your doorstep. It's a tragic tale really, one that should never have been told, but the sad reality is that it makes perfect business sense. Live in Korea for even the smallest amount of time and you will quickly see your door becomes bombarded with pamphlets and flyers of restaurant menus, all of which deliver. Making avoiding cooking for yourself an all too easy option, as getting cheap, and usually pretty decent quality food, delivered straight to your month. Add America fast food to that category and there is great potential for disaster!

McDonalds has taken over the world!

When I arrived in Korea back in 2008, I had to do a double take when I was walking down a street around my neighbourhood and, to my surprise, saw a McDonalds scooter whizzing around the streets. I couldn't believe my eyes! "Oh, the humanity", I thought, vowing never to take note of the dead-simple number plastered across the back of the scooter. Come my second year, however, I felt the shame as I picked up the phone and made the call. Once they had my street address it's as easy as you like. 20~40 minutes later, my indignity became palpable, delicious even!

Korea's current "Mcdelivery" menu

But things got a little tricky though when they upped their minimum delivery price. Now, I was forced to upsize my meal or even add a McFlurry to the mix in order to meet the required price for ordering delivery. I was in dark place, surrounded by quick and convenient fast food, with only my guilt and greasy fingers to console me.

Why did they have to introduce my favourite burger, why!!

Why Korea, oh dear god why! It was a new low, not only for myself, but for mankind as I watch us devolve to this sorry state of affairs. What made it worse was the sickeningly friendly gentlemen that delivery my saturated fat right to my doorstep. A smile, and polite hello, it's all part of their evil plan that corrupts and reinforces the weak decision you've just made. They hand you your food, your drink (and sometimes a McFlurry!), and end it all by passing off a coupon card to encourage you to order again. Korea is twisted and sinister little country, and this kind of barbaric enticement needs to be reported so that the world can keep on spinning!

Just look at all those scooters just waiting for you to pick the phone, how could you not make the call!

Dramatics aside, many foreigners in Korea find it difficult to enjoy Korean food. Many of edibles you will find on a typical Korean menu can be hard to identify for Westerners, and the flavours are, expectedly, very different from other countries. It is possible to head out to a Home Plus or E-Mart to do your grocery shopping; there are even speciality stores and chains like Costco they might stock your favourite products so that you can make it yourself. But beware! Because when laziness and the convenience offered by home delivery comes a knocking, you might end up leaving Korea with a few more pounds under your belt than you had planned for!

A cute Korean McDonald's commercial featuring Song Hye-kyo.

So what do you think of McDonald's delivery, good idea or trouble brewing? Does McDonalds deliver in your own country?

-C.J Wheeler (chriscjw@gmail.com)