The Cheop System 첩
cheop
Understanding how Korean meals are counted and arranged.
Overview
Cheop refers to the counted side dishes on a Korean table. A basic 3-cheop meal may include rice, soup, kimchi, and one counted side dish. A 5-cheop or 7-cheop meal adds more banchan. Royal or ceremonial tables could reach 9 or 12 cheop. The exact counting convention varies by household, region, and era.