Think of Korean barbecue as having roots way back in Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, which ran from 1392 to 1910. Back then, grilling meat was just a super common way to cook. People weren’t using fancy grills or anything. They just threw meat directly over open flames.

Now, that whole idea of marinating meat before grilling? That’s also an ancient Korean tradition. Early Korean chefs were basically experimenting with different herbs, spices, and sauces to make their meat taste even better. Over centuries, they kept refining these techniques, which eventually led to the amazing marinades and grilling styles we all love today.

And naturally, these awesome Korean BBQ cooking methods didn’t stay a secret for long. They quickly spread beyond Korea’s borders and became a global hit.