 The Sino-Korean word for "tax" is a compound character that uses the character for the rice plant.The preference for rice escalated into the Joseon period, when new methods of cultivation and new varieties emerged that would help increase production.As rice was prohibitively expensive when it first came to Korea, the grain was likely mixed with other grains to "stretch" the rice; this is still done in dishes such as "boribap" (rice with barley) and "kongbap" (rice with beans).