King Sejong's Royal Table: The Hidden Health Culture of the Joseon Dynasty

The dining table of King Sejong the Great, evaluated as the greatest sage king of Joseon, is being newly highlighted through a modern variety show. Moving beyond a simple introduction to royal court cuisine, a new program has emerged that promises a fresh approach by combining history and gastronomy, unraveling the king's health management, family love, and the food culture of the era.

'What Did the King Eat?', a new TV CHOSUN variety show premiering on July 8, is a gourmet talk program that focuses on the food culture and hidden stories of the Joseon royal family, examining what kind of food the 27 kings ate and how they managed their health.

The first episode will focus on the royal table of King Sejong the Great, considered one of the greatest monarchs of Joseon. History instructor Choi Tae Sung will appear in the role of a Hall of Worthies scholar, while Yang Sang-guk transforms into a eunuch, Shin Giru into a court lady, and Ji Ye-eun into a palace maid to recreate the royal food culture. Additionally, Lee Min-woo, an actor specializing in historical dramas, will appear as King Sejong to add to the historical atmosphere.

A particularly interesting part of the broadcast is the story of restorative foods related to King Sejong's health. While Sejong was a figure who organized the national system in the early Joseon period and left numerous achievements including the creation of Hangeul, he is also known as a monarch who suffered from excessive workload, obesity, and health issues. Accordingly, the royal court cuisine and restorative food culture used to manage the king's health were important concerns for the royal family at the time.

Choi Tae Sung plans to unravel the stories of King Sejong's family relationships and life during the broadcast. He will mention that Sejong was a prolific monarch with 22 children, introducing the historical background intertwined with the king's personal life and physical strength management.

Following this, Chef Lee Yeon-ju will recreate and reveal the special restorative foods that King Sejong enjoyed. However, due to the unexpected and unique appearance of the food, Yang Sang-guk will show a flustered reaction, asking, "Is this a maggot?", drawing laughter. On the other hand, Shin Giru shows a curious reaction, expressing anticipation for the food, while Ji Ye-eun also shares her own experiences, creating a stark difference in temperature among the cast.

This scene goes beyond simple variety show entertainment, showing that food can be perceived entirely differently depending on the era and culture. Food that may seem unfamiliar and strange by modern standards could have been precious ingredients used to protect the king's health at that time. Ultimately, food is not just something to eat, but a cultural record that contains the values and lifestyles of the people of that era.

Furthermore, this broadcast is meaningful in that it looks at King Sejong as a human being, moving away from the historical image of a 'king who left achievements.' Choi Tae Sung will highlight the tender relationships within the royal family by telling the story of a special meal prepared by Prince Munjong for Sejong, who fell into deep sorrow after losing his Wife, Queen Soheon.

This part shows the image of the human Sejong, who loved his family and experienced the pain of loss, moving beyond the image of a king commonly consumed through the lens of power and politics.

'What Did the King Eat?' approaches history more familiarly through the subject of royal court cuisine. Food is the most concrete trace that remembers an era and an important window to understanding a person's life.

The health philosophy and family stories contained in King Sejong's royal table, along with the modern cast's reactions to the unfamiliar restorative foods, are expected to create new fun where history and variety entertainment meet.