A Korean Adventure: Whaling Experience and a Slice of Survival

Have you ever eaten Asian whale meat, especially in a survival scenario? Here's a unique experience from the 1970s, blending culture, cuisine, and a bit of desperation.

A Road Less Traveled

Back in 1976, our friendship with South Korea began during our Army tour in Seoul. We fell in love with Korea and its people, but without a job or return tickets, we needed to find a way back home. With only $60 in our pockets, we had the gravitas to try to get a job in the PX, but fate had other plans. Instead of a job, we rented a room for $16 a month, desperate yet happy. We were grateful for our girlfriend’s assistance, which allowed us to eat for very little.

A Race Against Time

Our goal was to get to Pusan and renew our Korean tourist visas via the Kampu Ferry Boat to Shimonoseki. We had to decide whether to renew our visas or return home and apply again. We opted for the latter, needing the cash and to catch up with our friends. However, our plans hit a storm of problems.

The Harsh Realities of Japan

After a day of failure, we boarded a ticket for Japan. With only $7 left, we faced the reality of starvation. Marks for food in Japan were significantly higher than in Korea. As we waited for the ferry to turn around, we found a temporary shelter behind a movie theater showing “King Kong.” When our water supply ran out, we found a can of food that was dented and honor-bound not to sell. The man, seeing our struggle, gave us the can.

The Harvest from a Dented Can

The dented can contained what we later realized was whale meat. Initially, we didn't know what to make of it, but it was certainly better than stale bread. The meat tasted like "Stringy SPAM," flavored with barbecue sauce. This small meal of whale meat sandwiches nourished us and saved us from starvation. We were so hungry that we celebrated our luck with a can of cheap soda, chips, and Japanese beer.

Good Turns and Random Acts of Kindness

As we braced for the storm, a money bill was found on the street. While it was considered beneath Koreans to pick up lost money, Ed and I gladly retrieved it. It was a 5000 yen bill, which, at 300 yen to the dollar, equaled almost $17! This money purchased us a small meal of instant ramen noodles, keeping us fed until the ferry returned us home. The journey back to Korea was the beginning of a new chapter, one we were living on the edge of.

The Samsung Paycheck and a New Beginning

The next day, our Samsung paycheck made us rich, but we never had the urge to eat whale meat again. This experience taught us a lot about resilience, the culture of survival, and the kindness of strangers. The visit to Korea was an adventure that encapsulated the challenges and adventures of the 1970s.