minari

Minari is the Korean name for a group of edible water-loving herbs, most often referring to Oenanthe javanica, commonly known as water celery or water dropwort in English. It is a semi-aquatic perennial native to East Asia, cultivated for tender green stalks and fragrant leaves. In Korean cuisine the herb is used fresh in soups, stews, kimchi, and side dishes, or stir-fried with garlic and sesame oil. It tolerates wet soils and can quickly establish in ponds, ditches, or rice paddies, where it adds a bright, celery-like flavor.

Minari (film) is a 2020 American drama directed by Lee Isaac Chung, written by Chung, and produced by A24. The story follows a Korean American family—Jacob and Monica Yi, their children David and Anne, and Jacob's mother Soon-ja—as they move from Los Angeles to a rural farm in Arkansas in the 1980s to pursue farming and a better life. The title refers to the minari herb, which becomes a symbol of resilience and home for the family as it grows alongside their dreams. The film stars Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Youn Yuh-jung, Alan S. Kim, and Noel Cho. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020, where it won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, and was released by A24 later that year. It received widespread critical praise for its intimate portrayal of immigrant life and won several awards, including six nominations at the 93rd Academy Awards, with Youn Yuh-jung winning Best Supporting Actress.

Minari has thus entered popular discourse as both a culinary ingredient and a cultural symbol of immigrant families in the United States, illustrating how a simple plant can connect food, memory, and belonging across generations.