Korean tableware consists of a number of bowls and plates, each of which has a different name according to its use. In addition to bowls for bap (steam-cooked rice) and guk (soup), a large bowl called jochibo is reserved for jjigae, boa for kimchi, jaengcheop for banchan or side dishes, and jongji for dips and seasonings. With Korean cuisine being hailed as a well-balanced and healing diet, so are onggi (earthenware storage jars), mainly used to store pickled and fermented foods, and yugi (brassware) suitable for keeping contents warm for extended periods of time. Onggi is indispensable for fermenting foods and keeping them in their best condition. It has a microporous surface, which allows for the passage of air and sunlight necessary for the development of lactic acid and other good bacteria. The bacteria, in turn, helps kimchi, jeotgal (salted fermented food made with a variety of seafood) and jang (all fermented condiments made from soybeans including ganjang, gochujang and doenjang) to ripen. Nonporous containers are not conducive to fermentation, and the foods will simply decompose inside them. The porousness of onggi derives from the use of clay, its main material. Onggi crocks and jars are made with crude clay mixed with particles of gravel and sand and baked in a kiln at a temperature of 1,200˚C or higher. Particles of sand melting at this high temperature generate bubbles, creating a microporous structure.

Yugi, or brassware, changes color in the presence of harmful chemicals, thus giving a visible warning if food contains any toxic ingredients. Not only is yugi sensitive to harmful chemicals, but it is also effective in fighting them off. It made news a few years ago when E. coli O-157: H7, a bacterium causing food poisoning, disappeared after residing in yugi for several hours. In the past, Korean people used utensils made of brass to heal canker sores. Buddhist monks shaved their heads with brass knives to prevent infection from shaving cuts. Before use, soak yugi plates and bowls in boiling water, and they will keep the contents warm for longer.