Copyright : Korea tourism Organization

Korean cuisine is based on the idea of dynamic balance and the 5 substances (um yang o-haeng). The belief is that everything is made up of contrasts such as black/ white, spicy/ sweet, fire/ water, etc. By balancing these opposing ideas there is a sense of balanced perfection from which cosmic energy can emanate. In a way, this idea of balance is similar to the philosopher Mircea Eliade’s idea of “center” in his religious theory “Sacred and the Profane.” Korea’s idea of dynamic balance and the five substances holds that a balance of the five hues: black, white, red, green, yellow; the five tastes: salty, spicy, sweet, bitter, sour; and the five substances: fire, water, wood, metal, earth; leads to a perfect harmony of taste, smell, and appearance. This leads to the optimal release of energy.

Korean food is like a balanced math formula. The basic Korean meal must have some meat, soup, vegetable side dishes (banchan), and rice. Koreans subconsciously eat according to a ratio. So if they eat some bland rice, they will then eat a bit of spicy kimchi, and a sip of savory soup. If they have a bit of soup, then maybe they’ll have a bite of salted vegetables and then a bit of rice. By eating this way, a meal never gets boring, for there are infinite possibilities and tastes.

Korean dishes like “dolsot bibimbap (spicy mixed rice in a stone bowl)” perfectly demonstrate this idea of dynamic balance and the five substances. Dolsot bibimbap (spicy mixed rice) has rice on the bottom then many colorful vegetables such as orange, sweet carrots; green, bitter spinach; black, savory seaweed; white, salty bean sprouts; and red, sour kimchi. It also has egg and ground beef for protein. Everything is mixed together in a heated stone bowl with red, spicy chili paste (gochujang). The contrasts of flavors, textures, and elements create a healthy and delicious meal.

Other Korean meals that demonstrate this idea are Korean Full Course Dinner (Hanjeongshik), Royal Hot Pot (Sinseollo), Raw Fish Rice Bowl (Hwaedukkbap) and The Five Flavored Berry (Omija).