Korean barbecue (or KBBQ) can be traced back to the Koguryo Era in Korean history. It was invented by the nomadic Yemaek tribe group. Their range covered the entirety of Korea and also Manchuria. Because they were always on the go, the Yemaek people had plenty of time to marinate meats, but also needed the ability to cook their food quickly. This is how maekjeok came into being. "Maek" is the name of the Yemaek tribe, and "jeok" is the word for the skewers used to cook their meat in an open fire. After about a hundred years, a Korean Dynasty and a Mongol Invasion, maekjeok lost its skewers. It was transformed into bulgogi, which is an incredibly sweet and delicious stewed beef that's the most sought-after item in korean bbq near me.