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)
November 16 is Mother’s Day in the DPRK. The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung attended the First National Conference of Mothers
November 16, 2025
November 16 is Mother’s Day in the DPRK. The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung attended the First National Conference of Mothers
Tangible results have been achieved in the effort to implement the comprehensive mechanization of the rural economy. For the past
November 16, 2025
Tangible results have been achieved in the effort to implement the comprehensive mechanization of the rural economy. For the past
Songs imbued with love and affection for mothers are widely sung across the country in the run-up to Mother’s Day (November 16).
November 16, 2025
Songs imbued with love and affection for mothers are widely sung across the country in the run-up to Mother’s Day (November 16).
Agricultural workers of the Sangri and Upho stockbreeding farms in Phungso County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK, moved into new
November 15, 2025
Agricultural workers of the Sangri and Upho stockbreeding farms in Phungso County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK, moved into new
Early on October 1, 2020, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the rehabilitation site in flood-stricken Kimhwa County,
November 15, 2025
Early on October 1, 2020, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the rehabilitation site in flood-stricken Kimhwa County,
The bell from the Yujom Temple is one of the Korean historical relics, which show the talent of the Korean ancestors. The bell had
November 15, 2025
The bell from the Yujom Temple is one of the Korean historical relics, which show the talent of the Korean ancestors. The bell had
Completed in October 2002, the 150-odd-km-long Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway is a gravitational waterway system for irrigating th
November 15, 2025
Completed in October 2002, the 150-odd-km-long Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway is a gravitational waterway system for irrigating th
Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister
November 15, 2025
Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister
Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was presented with the credentials of
November 15, 2025
Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was presented with the credentials of
On November 13 Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of
November 15, 2025
On November 13 Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, released the following press statement titled “G7
November 14, 2025
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, released the following press statement titled “G7
Machine factories across the country have finished the production of equipment for the regional-industry factories to be built
November 14, 2025
Machine factories across the country have finished the production of equipment for the regional-industry factories to be built
The Myohyangsan Pine Tree, named so as it grows in Mt Myohyang, is found in Hyangam-ri, Hyangsan County, Jagang Province.The tree
November 14, 2025
The Myohyangsan Pine Tree, named so as it grows in Mt Myohyang, is found in Hyangam-ri, Hyangsan County, Jagang Province.The tree
Modern houses have been built at the Simpho Farm in Unhung County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. The new village is the precious
November 14, 2025
Modern houses have been built at the Simpho Farm in Unhung County, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. The new village is the precious
There took place a story-telling meeting “Mother’s Happiness” of exemplary women agricultural workers and members of the
November 14, 2025
There took place a story-telling meeting “Mother’s Happiness” of exemplary women agricultural workers and members of the
A symposium in the field of history was held at the Academy of Social Sciences in the DPRK on November 12 to denounce the
November 14, 2025
A symposium in the field of history was held at the Academy of Social Sciences in the DPRK on November 12 to denounce the
A bowling alley has been newly built in the Kuksa Peak area of Nampho Municipality. This adds more to the status of the area as a
November 14, 2025
A bowling alley has been newly built in the Kuksa Peak area of Nampho Municipality. This adds more to the status of the area as a
Talks between Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign
November 14, 2025
Talks between Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign
The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea hosted a reception on the evening of November 12 in honour of
November 14, 2025
The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea hosted a reception on the evening of November 12 in honour of
An agreement on cooperation in the field of information between the DPRK Information Committee and the Ministry of Digital
November 14, 2025
An agreement on cooperation in the field of information between the DPRK Information Committee and the Ministry of Digital
More Articles
