Why Do Koreans Eat Samgyetang on the Hottest Days of the Year?

— The Steaming Truth Behind a Summer Tradition —

In Korea, there’s something curious you’ll see every summer:

on the hottest, stickiest, sweatiest days of the year,

people line up at restaurants not for ice cream or cold noodles,

but for a bubbling, steaming bowl of chicken soup called Samgyetang (삼계탕).

Strange? Maybe.

But it’s not just tradition—it’s science.

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🌞 What Are “Boknal” Days?

In the heart of summer, Korea marks three specific days called:

• Chobok (초복) – Early Summer Heat

• Jungbok (중복) – Midsummer Heat

• Malbok (말복) – Late Summer Heat

Together, they’re known as “Sambok (삼복)”, the so-called Dog Days of Summer,

when the heat and humidity feel like a blanket you can’t shake off.

During this time, your autonomic nervous system struggles to regulate body temperature.

You sweat more, lose appetite, feel fatigued, and your immune system gets weaker.

Our ancestors knew:

“When the body is drained, food must restore its energy.”

And so they turned to Samgyetang—a simple but powerful bowl of health.

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🧪 The Science Inside Your Bowl

Samgyetang isn’t just comfort food.

It’s a scientifically balanced recovery meal.

Here’s what’s inside:

• Young whole chicken: tender, easy to digest, full of lean protein

• Ginseng: improves circulation, reduces fatigue, boosts thermal balance

• Glutinous rice, garlic, jujubes (red dates): warm the digestive system and nourish the blood

This mix delivers energy, improves digestion, and enhances circulation—exactly what your body craves in oppressive heat.

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🔥 But Why Eat Hot Food in Hot Weather?

It’s a fair question.

Wouldn’t cold food be better?

Well, not really. Here’s why:

Cold food may feel refreshing temporarily,

but it lowers your core body temperature, weakens digestion, and leaves your stomach feeling heavy and sluggish.

In contrast, hot food like Samgyetang raises your inner temperature,

promotes sweating, and allows your body to cool down naturally—a principle called “Iyeol Chiyeol (이열치열)”, or “fighting heat with heat.”

That’s why people often say after finishing a bowl,

“I’m drenched in sweat, but I feel so refreshed!”

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🌿 A Tradition Rooted in Wisdom—and Backed by Science

To outsiders, it might seem odd:

boiling soup on a boiling day?

But this tradition comes from a deep understanding of the human body,

passed down through generations.

It’s more than custom.

It’s care.

It’s balance.

It’s healing through heat.

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🍲 Final Thoughts

This summer,

instead of escaping the heat with something cold,

why not embrace it the Korean way?

Let the steam rise,

the broth soothe,

and the nourishment do its quiet work.

After all, Samgyetang isn’t just food—it’s summer medicine in a bowl.