Seokbinggo -- ice store house

Can you imagine passing the summer without ice? You enjoy ice cold drinks when it is hot. But do you know that Korean ancestors also had ice in summer? How was that possible? There was no refrigerator then. The secret is with the ¡®Seokbinggo.¡¯

Seokbinggo means a freezer made of rocks. It was an ancient ice store house found only in Korea. Thick ice was cut during winter and was kept in the Seokbinggo for use in summer.

Half of the Seokbinggo is underground, while the other half is above ground. The floor, walls, and ceiling are made of granite and there is an airway. The walls are covered with limestone to keep off moisture and water. This structure cooled the inside of the Seokbinggo and kept the ice from melting.

The Seokbinggo has a long history. According to records, the stored ice was first used from the Shilla period (57 BC - 935 AD). It was first used in King Yuri period (24 - 57). Three centuries later, ice storage was widely used during King Jijeung period (500 - 514). But unlike today, only the kings and the upper class were able to enjoy ice in summer.

The most famous Seokbinggo is the one in Gyeongju, Province of Gyeongsangbuk-do. Gyeongju was the capital of ancient Shilla Kingdom. The Gyeongju Seokbinggo was designated as National Treasure No. 66 in 1963.