Learn about the 'celestial fish' that Earth's diva demands to eat in the movie 'Why You Brought Me Here.'
Certainly, fans of the renowned Korean drama 'Why You Brought Me Here' won't forget the scene where Earth's superstar Chun Song Yi demands the dish 'celestial fish.'

This is a humorous detail due to the peculiar name 'celestial fish,' leaving even the characters in the film bewildered. Let's hunt for the true identity of this 'fish' through the article below.

The 'celestial fish' mentioned in the film doesn't actually belong to the fish family. In reality, they are a species of spoonworm scientifically known as Unicinctus Urechis, primarily found in the North China Sea, Japan, and Korea.

The Korean locals affectionately call them gaebul. The Unicinctus Urechis worm has many cute nicknames given by Koreans, most notably 'celestial fish' or 'plump innkeeper worm.'

The 'innkeeper worms' earn their dual nicknames due to both their appearance and behavior. Unicinctus Urechis boasts a pinkish flesh, smooth skin, and some noticeable bulges on its body.

From a distance, Unicinctus Urechis oddly resembles... well, the male anatomy. Add to that their swimming abilities, and the nickname 'celestial fish' was born.
Moreover, these worms have a penchant for burrowing under sand and mud, similar to moles on land. Their burrows, whether by chance or design, often become sought-after shelters for other creatures, hence the moniker 'innkeeper worm.'

Primarily used in Korean and Chinese cuisine, the 'celestial fish' is often captured alive, thoroughly cleaned, sliced, and consumed raw with salt and sesame oil in Korea.


According to many tourists visiting South Korea, this dish is chewy, delicious, reminiscent of oysters and fresh clams, and most notably... unnerving when slices of 'celestial fish' body parts are still quivering on the plate.
Simultaneously, they can be thoroughly cooked by stir-frying with vegetables and various spices. Additionally, the 'celestial fish' dish is a distinctive feature of Eastern Shandong cuisine in China.

Beyond becoming a delicacy, Japanese scientists have uncovered another purpose of the 'celestial fish.' In an experiment, experts released around 500 juvenile 'innkeeper worms' into each pond with sediment pollution.

After 2 months, they initiated testing, recording, and analyzing data on pollution levels in the pond. The results were astonishing—the presence of the 'celestial fish' significantly reduced the concentration of polluted sediment.

According to experts' explanations, the primary reason lies in the worm's inclination to burrow under sand and mud. Thanks to this behavior, in the not-so-distant future, 'celestial fish' could be extensively cultivated to minimize pollution in nearshore marine environments.
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Source: Travel guide Mytour – Via Kenh14
MytourMay 16, 2014