PLYN CONTENT · 8/6/2026
Summer in Korea: What Are Chobok, Jungbok, and Malbok?
During summer in Korea, you may hear the words Chobok, Jungbok, and Malbok or see long lines outside Samgyetang restaurants. These three days are collectively known as Boknal, traditional summer days when people eat nourishing foods to stay healthy during the hot weather.
Summer in Korea can be very hot and humid. During this season, Korea has a traditional custom of eating nourishing foods on certain days to take care of one's health and restore energy.
These days are known as Boknal (복날) and are divided into Chobok (초복), Jungbok (중복), and Malbok (말복).
What Are Chobok, Jungbok, and Malbok?
Boknal consists of three traditional summer days.
Chobok (초복): the first Boknal
Jungbok (중복): the second Boknal
Malbok (말복): the final Boknal
Together, the three days are also called Sambok (삼복).
The dates are not fixed and change every year according to the traditional calendar system.
What Do Koreans Do on Boknal?
The best-known Boknal tradition is eating nourishing food to stay healthy and maintain energy during the hot summer.
Even today, many Koreans eat a special meal on Boknal, and restaurants serving popular summer dishes can become especially busy.
For many people today, it is simply a familiar summer tradition and an opportunity to enjoy a nourishing meal with family, friends, or coworkers.
What Do Koreans Eat on Boknal?
Samgyetang (삼계탕) is probably the most famous Boknal food.
It is a chicken soup commonly prepared with ingredients such as ginseng, garlic, jujubes, and glutinous rice.
However, Boknal does not mean that everyone has to eat Samgyetang. People may choose other nourishing foods such as grilled eel, duck dishes, or different types of meat and soup.
The important part of the tradition is enjoying food that helps you feel energized during the hot summer.
Traditional Customs and Beliefs About Boknal
Boknal has also been associated with various customs and folk beliefs in the past.
For example, there was an old belief that bathing in a stream or river on Boknal could make a person lose weight or become thin.
Another traditional belief connected rain on Boknal with a poor jujube harvest.
These beliefs are not part of everyday life for most Koreans today, but they offer an interesting look at how people in the past understood and experienced the summer season.
2026 Boknal Dates
The Boknal dates for 2026 are:
Chobok: July 15
Jungbok: July 25
Malbok: August 14
Boknal falls on different dates each year, so check the dates for the year you plan to visit or study in Korea.
What Should International Students Know?
If you are in Korea on Boknal, you may notice that Samgyetang restaurants are busier than usual, especially around lunch and dinner.
You do not have to eat Samgyetang to participate in the tradition. You can try another nourishing Korean dish, buy ready-to-eat Samgyetang from a supermarket, or simply experience Boknal as part of Korean summer culture.
If you are coming to Korea during summer, knowing about Boknal can help you understand why so many people suddenly start talking about Samgyetang on a hot summer day.