Editing Korean cuisine (section)

===Joseon period===
Agricultural innovations were significant and widespread during this period, such as the invention of the rain gauge during the 15th century. During 1429, the government began publishing books on agriculture and farming techniques, which included ''[[Nongsa chiksŏl]]'' (literally "Straight Talk on Farming"), an agricultural book compiled under [[King Sejong]].<ref name="National Assembly">King Sejong's Humanism, from [[National Assembly of the Republic of Korea]]</ref>{{Sfn|Pettid|2008|p=17}}

A series of invasions in the earlier half of the Joseon caused a dynamic shift in the culture during the second half of the period. Groups of ''[[silhak]]'' ("practical learning") scholars began to emphasize the importance of looking outside the country for innovation and technology to help improve the agricultural systems. Crops traded by Europeans from the [[New World]] began to appear, acquired through trade with China, [[Japan]], [[Europe]], and the [[Philippines]]; these crops included [[maize]], [[sweet potato]]es, [[chili pepper]]s, [[tomato]]es, [[peanut]]s, and [[Squash (plant)|squash]]. Potatoes and sweet potatoes were particularly favored as they grew in soils and on terrains that were previously unused.{{Sfn|Pettid|2008|pp=18–19}}

Government further developed agriculture through technology and lower taxation. Complex [[irrigation system]]s built by government allowed peasant farmers to produce larger crop volumes and produce crops not only for sustenance but also as [[cash crop]]s. Reduced taxation of the peasantry also furthered the expanded commerce through increasing periodic markets, usually held every five days. One thousand such markets existed in the 19th century, and were communal centers for economic trade and entertainment.{{Sfn|Pettid|2008|p=18}}

The end of the Joseon period was marked by consistent encouragement to trade with the Western world, China and Japan. In the 1860s, trade agreements pushed by the Japanese government led the [[Joseon dynasty]] to open its trade ports with the west, and to numerous treaties with the United States, Britain, France, and other Western countries.{{Sfn|Pettid|2008|p=19}}

The opening of Korea to the Western world brought further exchange of culture and food. Western missionaries introduced new ingredients and dishes to Korea. Joseon elites were introduced to these new foods by way of foreigners who attended the royal court as advisers or physicians. This period also saw the introduction of various seasonings imported from Japan via western traders and alcoholic drinks from China.{{Sfn|Pettid|2008|p=163}}