Korean food is deeply-rooted in tradition and there are many that one will come across for certain occasions such as birthdays and chuseok. For Seollal (설날) or the Lunar calendar’s New Year, there is only one dish that comes to mind: tteokguk, or the rice cake soup.
Derived from the words tteok (떡) for rice cake and guk (국) for soup, this is a straightforward dish presented in a clear broth. The soup is light, the beef is soft and the tteok is chewy – all in all, the experience highlights the nuances of Korean cuisine and tradition.
The tteokguk is made savory by its beef broth, mainly using the beef bones which are also known as the tastiest part.
The sliced tteok came from garaetteok (가래떡) a long, cylindrical rice cake that is said to symbolize prosperity – the length of the garaetteok is intended for property expansion and its oval shape for money. Additionally, choosing this humble dish as part of the New Year’s tradition is believed to respect the day’s solemnity. To many, Seollal is also a way for the younger members of the family to greet their elders through the deep and formal bow called sebae (세배) while in their hanboks.
Similar post: https://thisiskoreatours.com/tangsuyuk-china-korea/
