Many K-pop stars talk about their favorite Korean foods.
EXO’s D.O. goes one step further.
He actually cooks them.
D.O., also known as Doh Kyung-soo, holds a Korean cooking certification, and on an EXO reality show he prepared a special Korean rice soup for his fellow members.
The dish became known simply as “D.O. Rice Soup.”
So what did he put in it?
D.O. Isn’t Just a K-pop Idol Who Likes Food
Cooking has long been associated with D.O., but this particular dish shows that he knows how to build flavor from relatively simple ingredients.
According to the Korea Tourism Organization, D.O. prepared his rice soup using dried seafood and mushrooms, creating a rich broth for the EXO members.
D.O. himself described the idea very simply: rice goes into soup, followed by toppings such as green onions or mushrooms.
The other EXO members apparently thought the result was anything but ordinary.
They applauded and gave him thumbs up after tasting it.
What Exactly Is Gukbap?
The Korean word gukbap (국밥) combines two everyday words:
Guk (국) = soup
Bap (밥) = rice
In its simplest form, it’s rice eaten together with hot soup.
But there isn’t just one type of gukbap.
Different regions and restaurants use beef, pork, seafood and other ingredients to create very different broths. The Korea Tourism Organization describes gukbap as a long-established Korean meal valued for being simple, satisfying and quick to eat—almost a traditional form of Korean fast food.
That’s part of what makes D.O.’s version interesting.
Instead of simply copying one famous restaurant-style gukbap, he created his own version around dried seafood and mushrooms.
Why Is Rice in Soup Such a Big Deal in Korea?
For someone unfamiliar with Korean food, putting rice into soup might not sound particularly special.
In Korea, however, rice and soup are fundamental parts of the traditional meal.
A typical Korean table places rice and soup directly in front of the diner, surrounded by various side dishes.
Gukbap takes those two staples and brings them together in one comforting bowl.
It’s hot.
It’s filling.
And it doesn’t need to look fancy to taste good.
That makes it a very different side of Korean food from the colorful dishes tourists usually encounter first.
Could You Make D.O. Rice Soup at Home?
Probably more easily than you might expect.
The version highlighted by the Korea Tourism Organization relies on a flavorful broth built with dried seafood and mushrooms, with rice and toppings such as green onions or mushrooms added to finish the dish.
That means you don’t need a tabletop Korean barbecue grill or dozens of ingredients to understand the basic idea.
Start with a deeply flavored soup.
Add rice.
Add your toppings.
And suddenly one of Korea’s simplest comfort-food ideas becomes a complete meal.
D.O. Shows Another Side of K-food
There’s something fitting about ending a K-pop food journey with D.O.
Lisa introduced us to gamjatang.
Jungkook gave ramyeon his own twist.
Jimin brought us to samgyeopsal.
Key and Minho connected us to sundae-gukbap.
Hwasa helped turn gopchang into a nationwide craze.
And D.O. actually stepped into the kitchen and made his own Korean rice soup for his members.
Sometimes the most interesting way to discover Korean food isn’t asking what a K-pop star eats.
It’s asking:
What would they cook for their friends?