Historical and biological aspects of bibimbap, a Korean ethnic food

BackgroundBibimbap, a Korean rice dish with mixed vegetables, is very popular around the world. The origin, its unique structure, and the health benefits of bibimbap have attracted interest. Although there are many hypotheses about the origin and development of bibimbap, most of them lack strong scientific evidence.MethodsTo investigate the biological and historical aspects of bibimbap, Korean old literatures and scientific papers on bibimbap were analyzed.ResultsThe existence of various theories about the origin of bibimbap suggests that none of these theories have strong support. Therefore, it is crucial to take a scientific approach in analyzing each hypothesis. This article will discuss the origin of bibimbap on the basis of the structure of the Korean traditional meal table. Furthermore, it will analyze its development based on historical references to bibimbap.ConclusionSome have made false arguments that the first written record of bibimbap is from the Siuijonseo (是議 全書), and that the name “bibimbap” came from koldongban (骨董飯). We should, however, firmly exclude unsupported claims which can hinder further understanding of bibimbap in the global market. Moreover, this article will focus on Jeonju bibimbap and the health benefits of bibimbap based on previous research.