Korean royal court cuisine

Korean royal court cuisinewas the style of cookery withinKorean cuisinetraditionally consumed at the court of theJoseon Dynasty, which ruledKoreafrom 1392 to 1897. There has been a revival of this cookery style in the 21st century. It is said that twelve dishes should be served along with rice and soup, with most dishes served inbangjja(bronzeware).
Collectively known asgungjung eumsikduring the pre-modern era, the foods of the royal palace reflected the opulent nature of the past rulers of the Korean peninsula. The opulent nature of the royalty is evidenced in examples as far back as theSillakingdom, where a man-made lake (Anapji Lake, located inGyeongju) was created with multiple pavilions and halls for the sole purpose of opulentbanquetsand a spring-fed channel,Poseokjeong, was created for the singular purpose of setting wine cups afloat during the writing of poems.
Reflecting the regionalism of the kingdoms and bordering countries of the peninsula, the cuisine borrowed from each of these areas to function as a showcase. The royalty had the finest regional delicacies sent to the palace. Although there are records of banquets pre-dating the Joseon period, the majority of these records note a vast variety of foods without mentioning the specific foods present.The meals cooked for the royal family were not seasonal, like a commoner's meal. Instead, they varied significantly day to day. The eight provinces were represented each month in turn in the royal palace by ingredients presented by their governors. This gave the cooks a wide assortment of ingredients to use for royal meals.
Food held a very important place in Joseon period. Official positions were created within theSix Ministries(Yukjo,육조) that were charged with all matters related to procurement and consumption of food and drink for the royal court. The Board of Personnel (Ijo,이조) contained positions specific for attaining rice for the royal family. The Board of Rites (Yejo) were responsible for foods prepared for ancestor rites, attaining wines and other beverages, and medicinal foods. There were also hundreds of slaves and women who worked in the palace that had tasks such as makingtofu, liquor, tea, andtteok(rice cakes). The women were the cooks to the royal palace and were of commoner or low-status families. These women would be split into specific skill sets or "bureaus" such as the Bureau of special foods (Saenggwa-bang,생과방) or the Bureau of cooking foods (Soju-bang,소주방). These female cooks may have been assisted by male cooks from outside the palace during larger banquets when necessary.
Five meals were generally served in the royal palace each day during the Joseon period, and records suggest this pattern had existed from antiquity.  Three of these meals would be full-course meals, while the afternoon and after dinner meals would consist of lighter fare. The first meal,mieumsang(미음상), was served at sunrise on days when the king and queen were not taking herbal medicines. The meal consisted ofrice porridge(juk,죽) made with ingredients such as abalone (jeonbokjuk), white rice (huinjuk), mushrooms (beoseotjuk), pine nuts (jatjuk), and sesame (kkaejuk). The side dishes could consist ofkimchi,nabak kimchi, oysters, soy sauce, and other items. The porridge was thought to give vitality to the king and queen throughout the day.
Thesura(수라) were the main meals of the day. Breakfast was served at ten in the morning and the evening meals were served between six and seven at night. The set of three tables (surasang,수라상), were usually set with two types of rice, two types of soup, two types of stew (jjigae), one dish ofjjim(meat stew), one dish ofjeongol(a casserole of meat and vegetables), three types ofkimchi, three types ofjang(장) and twelve side dishes, or called 12 cheop (12첩). The meals were set in thesuragan(수라간), a room specifically used for taking meals, with the king seated to the east and the queen to the west. Each had their own set of tables and were attended by three palace servant women known assura sanggung(수라상궁). These women would remove bowl covers and offer the foods to the king and queen after ensuring that the dishes were not poisoned.
This Korean food heritage has been inscribed by the government as ImportantIntangible Cultural PropertyNo. 38.Han Bok-ryeo(한복려;韓福麗) is the currentLiving National Treasureas the keeper of this property.
Thesurasangshould be served with three tables and a hotpot. The largest round table on the left is the main table which contains main bowl, soups and stews, dishes, side dishes and fermented stored dishes. The small round table at the lower right corner contains redsura,gomtangor thick meat broth, dessert, tea, empty dishes and bowls. This table is also used to store the covers of bowls and dishes used in the main table. The rectangular table in the upper right corner contains eggs, sesame oil, various raw vegetables and several sauces. The hotpot in the middle right is heated with charcoal, and usually containsjeongolsuch assinseollo.
The setting was as follows:
A, B, C:surasanggung(수라상궁)
Sura(수라) is a bowl of boiled rice and grains. Two kinds ofsuramust always be served. This includeswhite sura.
Juk(죽) andmieum(미음) oreung-i(응이) are types of riceporridgeusually served in the morning.Jukis thicker thanmieumin texture,latter of which is similar to the Westerngruel.
Guksu(국수) are noodles that are prepared with buckwheat or wheat flour, with the former being preferred.
Mandu(만두) are boiled or steamed dumplings.Mandudough is made from either wheat flour orbuckwheat.  The dough is then stuffed with various fillings.Tteokguk(떡국) is a soup made oftteok(glutinous rice cakes)
Tangis a type of soup made withbeef shank, intestines, a knuckle (bone) and beef brisket.
Jochi(조치) andgamjeong(감정) are stew-like dishes which is calledjjigaein nowadays. If seasoned withgochujang, they are calledgamjeong.Jochiis seasoned with salt or  salted shrimp.  Other varieties include:
Jjim(찜): steamed or boiled beef, pork, and fish seasoned with vegetables.Seon(선) is steamed vegetables, tofu, and fish stuffed with fillings made with beef or chicken and onions.
Jeongolandsinseolloare similar to Westernstewor Chinesehotpot.Sinseollo(which is a variety ofjeongol) is boiled in meat stock with various vegetables and mushrooms in a specific cooking pot with holes.Jeongolandsinseolloare served with aburner.
Saengchae(생채) is like asaladseasoned with salt, vinegar, soy sauce, ormustard sauce.
Namul(나물) are any variety of steamed vegetables seasoned with hot pepper, garlic, green onion, salt, and sesame or perilla oil. Typical vegetables includespinach,radish,royal fern,bracken,zucchini, green bean sprouts,Korean bellflower,bamboo shoots, etc. In some cases,dangmyeon(potato starchnoodles) and roasted beef can be used as well.
Jorigae(조리개) hard-boiled foods with heavy seasonings. Meats, fish and vegetable are mainly used.
Jeonyuhwa(전유화) or sometimesjeon: a dish resembling a pancake. The main ingredients can be lightly battered with egg and wheat flour. Eggs, flour, and other ingredients can be mixed to make pancakes.
Guiis a genericKorean cuisineterm for roasted and seasoned dishes. The main ingredients includegreen laver, beef, the root ofdeodeok(Codonopsislanceolata;더덕), fish, mushrooms, vegetables,Aralia elatasprouts (두릅), etc.
Hoe(회) is raw fish or raw seasoned beef
Mostly made of rice, it is eaten as a dessert or onChuseok, which falls on the 15th day of the 8th month in thelunar calendar. These rice cakes vary from containing sweet red bean rice to sesame seeds. Most of these rice cakes are mildly sweet and are enjoyed by everyone from young to old.
A sweet rice punch. Being an iconic Korean traditional drink, several varieties of cannedsikhyeare now widely available.
A sweet drink flavored with ginger andcinnamon. Softened driedpersimmonsand pine nuts are added at serving time.