Korean Rice Cake Traditions

Marking milestones with sweet celebrations

As I write my 20^th blog post, I find myself reflecting on the nature of milestones. When I embarked on this journey of sharing little life lessons weekly, I wasn’t sure how long I’d be able to juggle the demands of binge-watching and writing. Yet here we are, 20 posts later, celebrating a small but meaningful victory. This milestone has inspired me to explore a fascinating aspect of Korean culture deeply rooted in celebration: the tradition of rice cakes.

In Korea, rice cakes, known as tteok, are edible symbols marking life’s pivotal moments. From weddings and birthdays to funerals and ancestral rites, tteok grace tables across the nation. They even signal new beginnings, such as house-warmings and business openings.

Despite their name, tteok aren’t limited to rice alone. Crafted from various grains, they come in four main types: steamed, pounded, boiled, or pan-fried. Each type, with its unique shape, colour, and flavour, tells its own story and serves a specific purpose in the rich tapestry of Korean cultural celebrations.

Sirutteok: Steamed Tteok

Photo by Hyeon-Jeong Suk

One of the oldest forms of rice cakes, sirutteok is made by steaming rice flour in an earthenware vessel called a siru. Often layered with red beans, believed to ward off evil spirits and bad luck, it graces feast tables, ancestral rites, and memorial services. When people move houses or start businesses, sirutteok is served to invite good fortune, wealth, and health. A colourful variant, mujigaetteok or rainbow rice cake, is particularly popular at weddings and first birthdays.

Another notable steamed variety is baekseolgi, a white, delicate, and subtly sweet rice cake dating back to the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). It’s closely associated with celebrations of a baby’s first 100 days and first birthday. Tradition holds that serving baekseolgi to 100 people on a child’s hundredth day ensures a long and healthy life for the infant.¹

Jeolpyeon: Pounded Tteok

Photo by wizdata

Originating from the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), jeolpyeon was initially made for ancestral rites. Created by pounding rice flour until smooth and elastic, it’s shaped into colourful, flat rectangles and is now commonly served at weddings.

Hwajeon: Pan-fried Tteok

Photo by Korea.net, Jeon Han

Hwajeon, which translates to ‘flower pancakes,’ are sweet, bite-sized treats celebrating spring. These pan-fried delicacies are made from a batter of glutinous rice flour, water, and sugar, then adorned with edible flowers like Korean azalea, chrysanthemum, or rose petals.

Gyeongdan: Boiled Tteok

Photo by Hyeon-Jeong Suk

Gyeongdan are round, bite-sized treats often presented at celebratory events like weddings and first birthdays. Made primarily from glutinous sorghum or rice flour, these small balls are boiled and then coated with various ingredients such as honey, crushed nuts, beans, or cinnamon powder. Some are even filled with sweet red bean paste.²

Symbolism and Sharing

The tradition of giving out rice cakes is deeply symbolic in Korean culture. The sticky texture represents adhesiveness, symbolizing family unity and social cohesion. White rice cakes often signify purity and new beginnings, while their sweet taste represents wishes for a sweet life ahead. Even the process of making rice cakes, particularly the pounding method, symbolizes perseverance and hard work.

This practice of sharing rice cakes reinforces the importance of community in Korean culture. Rooted in Korea’s agricultural history, where rice was both a staple and a symbol of prosperity, this tradition continues to evolve with modern times while remaining an integral part of Korean cultural identity.

We see this tradition beautifully portrayed in Korean dramas. In Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha Episode 2, for instance, Yoon Hye-jin hands out rice cakes to celebrate the opening of her dental clinic. As she distributes her treats, she says, “I hope we can get along,” using this sweet gesture as an opportunity to connect with her new neighbours.

As I reflect on my own small milestone with this blog, I’m reminded of the beauty in celebrating life’s moments, big and small. The Korean tradition of sharing rice cakes embodies this sentiment perfectly - a sweet reminder of the joy found in sharing our successes with others.

1. https://www.onlyou.sg/2023/07/18/5-types-of-korean-rice-cakes-and-when-theyre-consumed/#:~:text=Songpyeon%20is%20a%20rice%20cake%20that%20dates%20back%20to%20ancient,ancestral%20rites%20and%20harvest%20festivals

2. https://asiasociety.org/korea/exploring-different-types-tteok