What is 육개장?

육개장 (yukgaejang) is a korean staple. A hangover cure, a warm blanket, a sigh of relief, a regretful sitting back in your chair, stunned, after devouring 2 big bowls from your mom.

육개장 is a spicy beef broth soup known to restore lost appetites and replenish energy, often consumed on the hottest of days. Fighting “fire with fire” helped flush out the impurities of the body (similar to the traditions around 삼계탕, “samgyetang”), and the healing ingredients of 육개장 such as green onoins, taro stems, and 고사리 (gosari, “Beef of the Mountains”) replenished the body with tons of nutrients and health benefits. It’s like a free sauna spa day welled up from your insides. A boiling hot soup and a cold shot of soju can leave you feeling refreshed on those summer days like no-ones business.

육개장 was considered a food of the commoners in Korea, but derived from a royal court cuisine dish, 곰국 (gomguk), a “cleaner”, non-spicy, elevated version of 육개장.

A korean folk tale describes a defeated King’s reaction to their first time having this hot “commoners” soup:

1. The Beef: Korean cows are animals devoted to their master. From birth to death, they work diligently in the field without complaining, and yield his meat up to the master upon death. The beef represents my Korean people who work hard for their king. Many of them are willing to give their lives for their king.
   
2. The Chillies: The spiciness and fiery nature of the soup represents the strength of his people.
   
3. The Gosari: These are the young stems of wild fern. They grow fast regardless of harsh environments, and this resilience symbolizes how much Koreans want independence and freedom from the Japanese.
   
4. The Taro Stems: The stems can withhold its life againt many diseases. Koreans will fight to obtain their country back.

육개장 is also a dish often served at Korean funerals. Many Korean family ceremonies came about through Korea’s Joseun Dynasty (1392-1920), one of which were the ceremonies and traditions around funerals, or 상례 (sangrye). Mourners stayed up all night in funeral halls, indulging in alcoholic drinks, and frequently 육개장. The red chili pepper powder in 육개장 was believed to protect the guests from ghosts and spirits.

육개장 has a variety of stories and significances, but holds a special place in my heart as a dish I really didn’t enjoy at first, but grew to love and constantly ask for every time I visited home. 육개장 is yum!

Health Benefits

3 of the main ingredients in 육개장 have clear health benefits:
Korean Green Onions:

• decrease cholesterol
  
• reduce risk of colon cancer
  
• reduce inflammation
  
• rich in vitamin C, good for immunity boost
  Taro Stems:
  
• natural melatonin
  
• good for stress relief
  
• body temperature rhythms
  
• inflammation treatment
  고사리 / fernbrake
  
• Called the “Beef of the Mountains”
  
• High protein content
  
• Lot of fibre