CreatripTeam

As autumn clears Korea’s seas, abalone reaches peak flavor and has long been prized not just as seafood but as a symbol of life and healing. Historically served at royal banquets and used in postpartum and convalescent dishes, abalone (jeonbok) features in rituals and family care. Traditional Korean medicine views abalone as 'pyeong' (balanced), supporting liver and kidney health, clearing heat, improving vision, and calming the mind; its shell (seokgyeolmyeong) is also used as an herbal remedy. Modern nutrition confirms abalone is low-calorie, high-protein, and rich in minerals, vitamins, taurine and arginine—beneficial for detoxification, recovery, immunity and slowing cellular aging. Culinary versatility reflects situational care: abalone porridge for the sick, abalone samgyetang (ginseng-chicken soup) for summer stamina, raw abalone dishes for the young and healthy, and butter-grilled abalone for richer tastes. Chefs should adapt preparation to the eater’s condition—e.g., cooking for the elderly or allergic, avoiding raw innards during spawning—and consider purine content for gout patients. Abalone thus embodies Korea’s blend of culinary, cultural and medicinal wisdom, a seasonal gift from the autumn sea.