The Korean nation had cultivated beans of semi-agricultural species evolved from a wild species from 6 000 years ago and Korean subspecific beans from 4 500 years ago.

Burnt beans were found out in the Odong relics in Hoeryong City, North Hamgyong Province and the Namgyong relics in Samsok District, Pyongyang. The discoveries go to prove that the Korean people have reared beans throughout the country and used them in their diet from several thousand years ago.

Beans of semi-agricultural species were discovered in the country in Juche 61 (1972). They are believed to date back to some 6 000 years ago.

According to historical records, Chinese people began raising beans imported from Korea 2 700 years ago and Japanese people did the same 2 000 years ago. Europeans began cultivating beans in the modern times.

Korea was also the first in the world to develop bean food and bean processing technique.