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)
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
The Naegohyang Team of the DPRK took first place in the 2025-2026 AFC Women’s Champions League and had the honour of winning a tro
May 25, 2026
The Naegohyang Team of the DPRK took first place in the 2025-2026 AFC Women’s Champions League and had the honour of winning a tro
Recently Segori Senior Middle School in Pothonggang District, Pyongyang, has achieved successes by actively running a table tennis
May 24, 2026
Recently Segori Senior Middle School in Pothonggang District, Pyongyang, has achieved successes by actively running a table tennis
In April, a project for overhauling the structures of the waterway running from Thaechon Power Station No. 5 to Unjon, Jongju and
May 24, 2026
In April, a project for overhauling the structures of the waterway running from Thaechon Power Station No. 5 to Unjon, Jongju and
Jonwi Street is located in the Sopho area of Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. In December 2022, when the task for the
May 24, 2026
Jonwi Street is located in the Sopho area of Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. In December 2022, when the task for the
DPRK weightlifters returned home on May 22 after taking part in the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships. At the weightlifting
May 24, 2026
DPRK weightlifters returned home on May 22 after taking part in the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships. At the weightlifting
Koryo celadon is part of the cultural heritage showcasing the artistic prowess and talents of the Korean people. The bluish
May 23, 2026
Koryo celadon is part of the cultural heritage showcasing the artistic prowess and talents of the Korean people. The bluish
A multi-purpose organic wastewater coagulant developed by Kim Chaek University of Technology is gaining popularity among the units
May 23, 2026
A multi-purpose organic wastewater coagulant developed by Kim Chaek University of Technology is gaining popularity among the units
There is a picturesque coastal village in Sepho-ri, Ragwon County, South Hamgyong Province, adjoining the East Sea of Korea. In
May 23, 2026
There is a picturesque coastal village in Sepho-ri, Ragwon County, South Hamgyong Province, adjoining the East Sea of Korea. In
The semi-final between the Naegohyang Team of the DPRK and the Suwon Team of the ROK for the 2025-2026 AFC Women’s Champions Leagu
May 22, 2026
The semi-final between the Naegohyang Team of the DPRK and the Suwon Team of the ROK for the 2025-2026 AFC Women’s Champions Leagu
A South Hwanghae provincial delegation of the DPRK led by An Myong Jun, chairman of the South Hwanghae Provincial People’s
May 22, 2026
A South Hwanghae provincial delegation of the DPRK led by An Myong Jun, chairman of the South Hwanghae Provincial People’s
The housing construction project in the Hwasong area of Pyongyang was carried out in four stages with 10 000 flats built every
May 22, 2026
The housing construction project in the Hwasong area of Pyongyang was carried out in four stages with 10 000 flats built every
One day in May 2023, the finals of the sports contest of workers in the metallurgical industry sector-2023 took place with
May 22, 2026
One day in May 2023, the finals of the sports contest of workers in the metallurgical industry sector-2023 took place with
The central education information centre of the Ministry of Education is successfully pushing ahead with the work to improve the
May 22, 2026
The central education information centre of the Ministry of Education is successfully pushing ahead with the work to improve the
The Biodiversity Institute of the State Academy of Sciences is successfully working on projects to build a nationwide network of
May 22, 2026
The Biodiversity Institute of the State Academy of Sciences is successfully working on projects to build a nationwide network of
More Articles