dog meat is often consumed during the summer months and is either roasted or prepared in soups or stews. the most popular of these soups is "gaejang-guk", a spicy stew meant to balance the body's heat during the summer months. this is thought to ensure good health by balancing one's ""ki"", or the vital energy of the body. a 19th-century version of "gaejang-guk" (개장국) explains the preparation of the dish by boiling dog meat with green onions and chili powder. variations of the dish contain chicken and bamboo shoots.