While the history of aromatic spices in Korea goes right back in time, Chillies probably only began being used in Korean cooking during the late 16th century. One theory is that Portuguese missionaries introduced them. Another is that Chillies were introduced to the Koreans by the Japanese when they invaded Korea in 1592.
According to Wikipedia, it has commonly been assumed that before being introduced to the Chilli, spices like black pepper (Piper nigrum) and Korean Pepper (Zanthoxylum piperitum) were used to make Korean pepper paste (Gochujang).
However, once the Koreans tasted Chillies, that was that. They were hooked. Following the same pattern as that which happened with the introduction of Chillies to India, they rapidly replaced the previous peppers due to their superior taste and pungency.
Another reason for the Chillies great success is that they were easy to cultivate and were soon grown very successfully around the country. Indeed, to such an extent, Chillies are today one of the most widely grown and eaten vegetables in Korea.
