[Hallyupedia] Tteokguk (떡국)

 

▲ This photo shows tteokguk, a soup made with sliced rice cakes. (Yonhap)

 

 

by Ra Hwak Jin / An Hayeon

[ENG] Soup made with sliced rice cakes in beef broth 

 

Tteokguk is a soup made with sliced riced cakes in beef broth. Traditionally in Korea, people eat tteokguk on New Year's mornings and it stems from the primitive religious meaning of being solemn and clean on the New Year’s Day, when the old year passes and new creation begins, according to Doosan Encyclopedia.

The origin of the custom of eating tteokguk on New Year's Day is not clear, but according to “Common sense Q&A of the Joseon Dynasty” written by Choi Nam-seon in 1946, "The custom of eating tteokguk on New Year's Day is very old, and it originated from the food used at New Year's rituals."

In books that recorded the seasonal customs of Hanyang (the old name of Seoul) during the Joseon Dynasty, such as the Yeolyangsesigi written in the 1800s, there are references to making tteokguk, and all mentioned how the dish was essential for the New Year.  

▲ Models display bowls for "tteokguk," consumed in Korea on Lunar New Year's Day, at an outlet in Seoul on Jan. 19, 2015. (Yonhap)

The book Dongguksesigi has a record saying, “Byeongtang is chopping white rice cakes like yeopjeon (Korean traditional coin) and mixing it with soy sauce soup to cook beef, pheasant meat, and red pepper powder.” In this context, Byeongtang is tteokguk.

Pheasant meat was originally used in tteokguk, but after it became difficult to obtain, chicken meat was used instead. The proverb "Chicken instead of pheasant" originated from the use of chicken instead of pheasant in tteokguk.
Today, beef is used more than chicken to make the broth of tteokguk. When the rice cake soup is put in a bowl, grilled beef and egg garnish, seaweed, and pine nuts are sometimes added on top.
 

 

▲ This photo shows the main ingredient garaetteok, used in tteokguk. (Yonhap)

 

 

The main ingredient, garaetteok (cylinder-shaped rice cake) contains the meaning of wishing for health and longevity. Some people enjoy eating garaetteok, the ingredient of tteokguk, by dipping it in honey.

There is also an interpretation that cutting garaetteok thinly to put it in the tteokguk is reminiscent of a coin and wishes for wealth.

 

▲ This photo, provided by Starship Entertainment, shows MONSTA X's I.M. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

◇ Becoming a year older with a tteokguk

Since tteokguk is the first food eaten on New Year’s Day, people playfully say a bowl of rice cake soup is needed to become a year older.

Linking tteokguk and age is common in Korea, and celebrities naturally use the expression.

MONSTA X’s I.M appeared on a program “Monsta X’s Character Interpretation” (translated) on Saturday and said, “Hello, I’m I.M who became cuter after eating tteokguk.”

By all means, tteokguk can be eaten on any day and not just on the morning of the New Year. Restaurants also add dumplings to tteokguk and sell them in the form of rice cake dumpling soup.

▲ Bowls of "tteokguk," are served to the homeless and elderly people living alone by volunteers of the Korean Red Cross at Seoul Station in the capital on Jan. 2, 2019. Rice cake soup is a traditional Korean dish for New Year's celebrations. (Yonhap)

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