[7][8][9] There is mention of chili pepper or mustard in Korea traced to Japan found in Collected Essays of Jibong, an encyclopedia published in 1614.

[18][19] Traditionally made from sun-dried Korean red chili peppers (태양초, taeyang-cho), gochugaru has a complex flavor profile with spicy, sweet, and slightly smoky tastes.

From the National Folk Museum of Korea:Gochu, or red pepper, is used to cleanse impurities and to chase away evil spirits in the event of an illness or the birth of a son.

The pepper’s red color was believed to symbolize the sun and its spicy flavor to be effective for chasing away bad forces, while its shape was associated with the birth of a male infant.

The practice of attaching red peppers to the taboo rope (geumjul) hung over the gate to announce the birth of a son is observed around the country.