From long ago, gruel has been regarded as a traditional food good for standing the heat and recruiting health in summer.

According to documents published in the periods of Koryo Kingdom (918-1392) and the feudal Joson dynasty (1392-1910), the variety of gruel mounted up to dozens. A book published in the 18th century wrote that gruel is one of daily dishes for the Korean people.

Typical of those gruels are fish porridge of Pyongyang and Phyongan Province, beef porridge of Hamgyong Province, kaoliang porridge of Hwanghae Province and mussel porridge of Kangwon Province.