It's for softening. The process breaks up the meat fibers both for easier chewing and for absorbing your saliva into the fibers. The latter makes it tastier when you chew it longer.
You can find similar dried fish / squids in Korean and Vietnamese grocery stores. Roast them slightly and they go really well with beers.
You can find similar dried fish / squids in Korean and Vietnamese grocery stores. Roast them slightly and they go really well with beers.