The Korean Health Secret: Nutritious Foods : VISITKOREA

The Korean Health Secret: Nutritious Foods

How to Keep an Energetic Lifestyle

The Joseon-era medical text Donguibogam (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine) has the phrase, “Yaksikdongwon.” This phrase, meaning “food and medicine come from the same origin,” means that there is a profound impact of daily dietary habits on one's health. This idea also forms the basis of Korean Yakseon cuisine, focused on treatment and health-boosting foods with medicinal ingredients. In fact, one can easily find the idea of “Yaksikdongwon” in Korean cuisine, especially in foods made to aid recovery and enhance well-being during bad body condition.

Nutritious foods, known in Korean as “Boyangsik,” come from this perspective as well. During transitional seasons or in the midst of summer heat, which can play havoc with one’s immune system and stamina, Koreans turn to high-nutrient foods to maintain their health. Let's explore the nutritious foods that play a role in sustaining the vibrant daily life of Koreans.

Ginseng Chicken Soup, The Foremost Nutritious Food in Korea

Ginseng Chicken Soup Served in a Steaming Hot Pot

Well-soaked Chicken Leg in the Broth of Ginseng Chicken Soup

Ginseng Chicken Soup, widely recognized globally, stands as a representative nourishing dish of Korea. During the sweltering “Boknal” days—Chobok, Jungbok, and Malbok—when even dogs are said to seek relief from the heat by lying upside down, Koreans turn to Ginseng Chicken Soup. This cultural tradition aligns with the Korean principle of “Iyeolchiyeol,” treating heat with heat in traditional medicine, while the soup's high-calorie content aims to replenish energy levels drained by the oppressive heat. Chicken has been a favored ingredient of nutritious foods in Korea, often being enjoyed as a Whole Chicken Soup. Over time, the dish has been evolved with ginseng, jujube, and other ingredients, turning it into the Ginseng Chicken Soup we know and love today.

Ginseng Chicken Soup involves cleaning a whole chicken and stuffing it with ginseng, garlic, jujube, and sweet rice, then boiling it for an extended period. There are various sub-types of Ginseng Chicken Soup, depending on the ingredients used: Ginseng Chicken Soup with Medicinal Herbs, made with medicinal herbs such as milk vetch roots, giant angelica, and antler; Ginseng Chicken Soup with Seafood, made with abalone or octopus; and Ginseng Chicken Soup with Perilla Seeds, boiling the soup with perilla seeds. The nutritious broth, made with healthy ingredients and chicken, gives you a boost of energy and protein that can help you endure the heat. Ginseng Chicken Soup’s gentle flavor also makes it a popular dish internationally. That is why this dish often features on the list of foods recommended for international visitors to Korea.

Korea Ginseng Chicken Soup
1 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-752-9376
10:30-21:00 (Closes at 20:30 on Weekends) / Closed for national holidays
Ginseng Chicken Soup KRW 19,000
Wild Ginseng Chicken Soup KRW 25,000
Abalone and Ginseng Chicken Soup KRW 25,000

Daehyegol Baeksuk
37 Geumosansangga-gil, Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-443-6234
10:00-21:00 / Last order at 20:00 / Closed Tuesdays
Ginseng Chicken Soup with Medicinal Herbs KRW 17,000
Whole Chicken Soup with Medicinal Herbs KRW 43,000-85,000
Whole Duck Soup with Medicinal Herbs KRW 65,000

Sandeul Eomni Bapsang
4-4 Geumji 2-gil, Sangjeon-myeon, Jinan-gun, Jeonbuk State
+82-507-1430-1566
11:00-20:00 (Closes at 14:00 on Wednesday) /
Winter Hours 11:00-14:00 (Inquiries by phone before visiting) /
Break time 14:00-17:00 / Last order at 19:00 / Closed Sundays
Ginseng Chicken Soup with Perilla Seeds (Medium) KRW 35,000
Ginseng Chicken Soup with Perilla Seeds (Large) KRW 65,000
Spicy Braised Chicken with Perilla Seeds (Large) (Whole Chicken) KRW 65,000

Abalone Dishes, The Wild Ginseng of the Sea

Sliced Raw Abalone Impresses with Fresh, Rich Flavor and Springy Texture

Grilled Abalone with Butter

Raw Abalone Bibimbap, Made with Fresh Abalone and Vegetables

Abalone has been a favored dish among kings since ancient times, often revered as the “Wild Ginseng of the Sea” due to its rich nutrients, including Vitamin B, taurine, arginine, and more. It is a high-protein, low-fat food that is great for weight loss and is rich in minerals. Abalone is especially rich in sulfur-containing amino acids, which are effective in aiding patients’ recovery and mitigating fatigue.

The most popular abalone dish in Korea is Abalone Porridge. Made by adding thinly-sliced abalone and abalone innards to a porridge made with rice, Abalone Porridge is a popular food for people suffering from a cold or other illnesses. Abalone is also prepared in various forms such as grilled, sliced raw, or in abalone pot rice. Given its diverse cooking methods, it's recommended to try it in various preparations to experience different textures and flavors.

Sliced Raw Abalone is typically enjoyed fresh with oil and salt seasoning or sweet and sour red chili paste. Its greatest appeal is its springy texture and flavor. Butter-grilled Abalone, beloved for its buttery flavor and tender texture, appeals even to those less acquainted with abalone. Raw Abalone Bibimbap replaces the Sliced Raw Fish from Raw Fish Bibimbap with Sliced Raw Abalone. It is a Bibimbap made with lettuce, sprouts, and Sliced Raw Abalone seasoned with sweet and sour red chili paste. The tangy-spicy flavor of the paste complements the savory and chewy texture of the Sliced Raw Abalone.

Na Jeonbok
21-4 Jong-ro 35-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-507-1406-8736
14:00-22:00 / Closed Sundays
Sliced Raw Abalone (Large) KRW 70,000
Butter-grilled Abalone KRW 40,000
Abalone and Seafood Ramyeon KRW 12,000

Seongwang Sikdang
46 Byeonsanhaebyeon-ro, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeonbuk State
+82-63-581-6900
08:00-20:00 / Break time 15:00-17:00 / Open all year round
Soy Sauce Marinated Abalone Set Menu (1 Serving) KRW 50,000
Spicy Braised Monkfish (Large) KRW 70,000
Puffer Fish Soup (Large) KRW 70,000

Sungpo Last Kitchen
2F, 56 Seongpo-ro 3-gil, Sadeung-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-634-0003
11:00-21:00 / Open all year round
Abalone Porridge Set Menu (2-3 Servings) KRW 38,000
Butter-grilled Abalone KRW 36,000
Abalone Risotto KRW 16,000

Grilled Eel, The Most Famous Stamina-boosting Food in Korea

Eels Grilled with Green Onion, Potato, Onion, Asparagus, and Other Vegetables

The Harmony of Eels and Grilled Vegetables

Enjoy Grilled Eel with Soy Sauce and Chives

The Clean Harmony of Grilled Eel and Sliced Ginger

Eels are beloved not only for their flavor but also their renowned stamina-boosting qualities in Korea. Eels are rich in essential amino acids, protein, vitamins A and B, zinc, selenium, and unsaturated fatty acids, which can help boost immunity and restore energy. In Korea, this nutritious food holds particular popularity, especially among men seeking to replenish their stamina.

During the Joseon period, eels were commonly used in porridge and soup, as recorded in the 18th-century work “Jasaneobo” by Jeong Yakjeon, a renowned scholar of that era. The introduction of Grilled Eels cooking method in Korea began in the 1910s, eventually becoming the predominant method of preparing eels on Korean tables. To prepare Grilled Eel, they are first gutted and de-boned before being grilled - either salt-grilled without additional seasoning or grilled with red chili paste or soy sauce.

Grilled Eel is often served with thinly-sliced ginger and chives, enhancing the already rich eel flavors and aiding in digestion.

Yeongdong Jangeo
8 Eonju-ro 148-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3448-9991
11:30-00:30 (Closes at 23:00 on Sundays) /
Last order at 23:30 / Open all year round
Ganghwado Island Tidal Flats Eel KRW 82,000
Freshwater Eel KRW 45,000
Assorted Vegetables KRW 15,000

Haeyongjip
2263 Yocheon-ro, Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State
+82-507-1372-2284
11:00-21:00 / Break time 15:00-17:00 / Last order at 19:30 / Closed Mondays
Grilled Eel with Deodeok KRW 30,000
Hairy Crab Soup (Large) KRW 65,000
Spicy Catfish Stew (Large) KRW 50,000

Cheongnim Jeong-Geumja Halmaejip
12 Incheongangseo-gil , Asan-myeon, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk State
+82-63-564-1406
11:00- 18:00 (Inquiries by phone before visiting) (Closes at 19:00 on weekends) /
Last order at 17:00 / Open all year round
Salt-grilled Eel (1 Serving) KRW 30,000
Grilled Red Chili Paste Marinated Eel (1 Serving) KRW 30,000
Grilled Black Raspberry Marinated Eel (1 Serving) KRW 30,000

Octopus Soup, The Nutritious Food that Revives Fallen Ox

Octopus Soup Made with Whole Octopus

A Perfectly Cooked Octopus Leg

A Nutritious Broth Boiled with Octopus, Vegetables, and Mushrooms

Octopus Soup Harmonizing Various Ingredients with Octopus

Octopus has long been valued as an ingredient in stamina-boosting foods, echoing the sentiments of the Joseon-era scholar Jeong Yakjeon in his work “Jasaneobo,” where he asserted, “Feed the ailing ox a few octopus, and the ox shall recover strength in short order.” Indeed, octopus is rich in minerals, vitamin B2, high-quality protein, and taurine, which are excellent for mitigating fatigue and boosting stamina. While dishes like Stir-fried Octopus and Live Octopus are well-known, Octopus Soup, also known as Yeonpotang, is a popular and nutritious choice in Korea that features octopus.

Octopus Soup, also known as Yeonpotang, typically refers to a clear soup made with vegetables, mushrooms, and octopus. Originally, Yeonpotang started as a Bean Curd Soup prepared with beef stock. However, over time, it transformed into today's octopus-infused soup by replacing the economical bean curd with the prized ingredient of octopus, especially prevalent in coastal regions.

Savor the clear, flavorful broth of Octopus Soup with vegetables and mushrooms, relishing it in a “refreshing” manner, much like the traditional Korean approach. Enjoy the chewy texture of octopus, cooked in the broth, by dipping it into soy sauce alongside vegetables. It's an experience akin to absorbing the vitality of an entire octopus into your body.

Namdo Eumsik Jeonmunjeom
7 Gwanak-ro 28-gil, Gwanak-gu, Seoul
+82-2-884-5458
11:30-22:00 / Break time 16:00-17:00 / Open all year round
Octopus Soup KRW 65,000-75,000
Griddled Octopus KRW 65,000-75,000 (Prices may be subject to change)
Croaker Soup KRW 17,000

Dongsanjeong
173 Seongnam 1-gil, Muan-eup, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-507-1410-9906
09:00-20:00 (Inquiries by phone before visiting) / Closes at 21:00 on weekends /
Closed on the first and the third Tuesdays of the month
Octopus Soup (Small) KRW 50,000
Sweet and Sour Octopus Salad (Small) KRW 50,000
Chopped Live Octopus KRW 20,000

Jeong-Yungi Hwangchil Nakji
33 Aenggogae-ro 87beon-gil, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon
+82-32-832-5333
11:00-21:30 / Break time 15:00-16:30 / Open all year round
Octopus and Calabas Soup with Korean Dendropanax (Small) KRW 50,000
Korean Dendropanax and Octopus Hot Pot (Small) KRW 50,000
Sliced Raw Octopus (Chopped Live Octopus) KRW 45,000

Traveling requires a lot of energy, especially when covering longer distances and encountering various experiences. To invigorate yourself and fully relish for your upcoming Korean journey, why not consider integrating a nutritious dish experience into your itinerary?

* The column was written in November 2023, hence some of the details may have changed. Please check with the restaurants before visiting.

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