The Korean ancestors had a custom of having ogokbap (boiled rice mixed with four other staple cereals) as a must special dish for Jongwoldaeborum (the fifteenth day of the first month by the lunar calendar) every year.
Ogokbap was also called ogokjapbap .
There were regional variations of five grains, but they mainly included rice, foxtail millet, sorghum, soya beans and adzuki beans.
An old book Rimwonsipryukji included rice, foxtail millet, sorghum, millet and adzuki beans in five grains; Kyuhapchongso , glutinous rice, foxtail millet, sorghum, soya beans and adzuki beans; and Sejong Sillok (Chronicles of King Sejong), rice, soya beans, millet, barley and barnyard grass.
Ogokbap has a very long history. Such five grains as rice, foxtail millet, sorghum, millet and soya beans were discovered among ancient relics. Records in the period of the Three Kingdoms (Koguryo, Paekje and Silla) deal with many stories about reaping a bumper harvest of five grains. An old book Tongguksesigi read that it was a traditional custom of having ogokbap on Jongwoldaeborum .
The Koreans, who have engaged in farming from thousands of years ago, lived on boiled rice and cooked rice mixed with various grains.
The custom of having ogokbap on Jongwoldaeborum originated from the fact that the Korean ancestors wanted to have a good taste of various cereals which they had cultivated with painstaking efforts and that ogokbap was good for promoting their health. It is also associated with their simple desire to reap a rich harvest in the new year and enjoy five blessings (longevity, wealth, health, blessing of children and peaceful death).
Today, the Korean people enjoy having ogokbap not only on holidays but in ordinary times.
More From Naenara (En)
The Naegohyang Team players of the DPRK returned home on May 26 after winning the 2025-2026 AFC Women’s Champions League. In the
May 28, 2026
The Naegohyang Team players of the DPRK returned home on May 26 after winning the 2025-2026 AFC Women’s Champions League. In the
Having long planned to turn the capital city of Pyongyang into a centrepiece of Korean-style civilization and a city of people,
May 28, 2026
Having long planned to turn the capital city of Pyongyang into a centrepiece of Korean-style civilization and a city of people,
The past five years have been recorded as a period when the appearance of the countryside of the DPRK has been radically changed.
May 28, 2026
The past five years have been recorded as a period when the appearance of the countryside of the DPRK has been radically changed.
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, had talks with Vivian Balakrishnan,
May 28, 2026
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, had talks with Vivian Balakrishnan,
Jo Yong Won, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first
May 28, 2026
Jo Yong Won, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first
Vivian Balakrishnan, foreign minister of the Republic of Singapore, and his party left Pyongyang on May 27 after visiting the
May 28, 2026
Vivian Balakrishnan, foreign minister of the Republic of Singapore, and his party left Pyongyang on May 27 after visiting the
The Kyonghung Daily Necessities Manufactory is located in Mangyongdae District, Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. Recently
May 27, 2026
The Kyonghung Daily Necessities Manufactory is located in Mangyongdae District, Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. Recently
Growing deeper and higher with each passing day are the respect and moral obligation to the brave soldiers who dedicated their
May 27, 2026
Growing deeper and higher with each passing day are the respect and moral obligation to the brave soldiers who dedicated their
Since its founding, the DPRK has always paid close attention to the reclamation of tideland. At the Eighth Congress of the
May 27, 2026
Since its founding, the DPRK has always paid close attention to the reclamation of tideland. At the Eighth Congress of the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a shipyard some years ago. The shipyard ranks among the country’s leading shipbuilding
May 27, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a shipyard some years ago. The shipyard ranks among the country’s leading shipbuilding
Vivian Balakrishnan, foreign minister of the Republic of Singapore, and his party arrived in Pyongyang on May 26 to visit the
May 27, 2026
Vivian Balakrishnan, foreign minister of the Republic of Singapore, and his party arrived in Pyongyang on May 26 to visit the
The creation of five revolutionary operas in the DPRK opened a new phase of operatic art, writing a significant chapter in the
May 26, 2026
The creation of five revolutionary operas in the DPRK opened a new phase of operatic art, writing a significant chapter in the
The education sector of the DPRK has recently been pushing ahead with the efforts to raise the country’s education onto an
May 26, 2026
The education sector of the DPRK has recently been pushing ahead with the efforts to raise the country’s education onto an
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a newly built regional-industry factory in Jangyon County in December 2025. Looking
May 26, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a newly built regional-industry factory in Jangyon County in December 2025. Looking
An outreach education programme is briskly conducted in the DPRK to strengthen the ranks of medical workers in regions. It is a
May 25, 2026
An outreach education programme is briskly conducted in the DPRK to strengthen the ranks of medical workers in regions. It is a
The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea decided to convene the Second Plenary Meeting of
May 25, 2026
The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea decided to convene the Second Plenary Meeting of
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
May 25, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
Just like we did in the past five-year struggle in which we pioneered the era of comprehensive development of socialism, we will
May 25, 2026
Just like we did in the past five-year struggle in which we pioneered the era of comprehensive development of socialism, we will
The Kumkhop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspeople is a famous factory which turns out a range of tasty foods. The factory
May 25, 2026
The Kumkhop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspeople is a famous factory which turns out a range of tasty foods. The factory
Written by Han Tok Su and set to music by Ri Myon Sang, “Endless Is Our Pride” is very popular with Koreans resident in Japan.The
May 25, 2026
Written by Han Tok Su and set to music by Ri Myon Sang, “Endless Is Our Pride” is very popular with Koreans resident in Japan.The
More Articles
