All About Chuseok Songbap: When did it start and why did it go up in price?

learn the origins and history of Chuseok songpyeon. we'll break down the secret of the half-moon shape from the Three Kingdoms period, how it became a Chuseok staple in the 1970s, and why the price of songpyeon has been rising lately.

songpyeon's origins date back to the Three Kingdoms period

songpyeon is a half-moon-shaped rice cake made with brown rice and sun grains that's served as a prayer for a good harvest. But when did the culture of eating songpyeon at Chuseok begin?

it's difficult to know the exact origins of songpyeon, as there are few written sources. however, we can speculate as to why the half-moon shape was created.

the Baekje Chair King and the birth of the half-moon song

there's a story recorded in the Three Kingdoms chronicles. during the reign of King Chairman of Baekje, a cipher-like demonic fire flew into the palace in the middle of the night, shouted that Baekje would soon be destroyed, and then disappeared into the ground.

on the turtle's shell was an inscription that said Baekje was like a round moon and Silla was like a half moon. when the king called a soothsayer to ask what the inscription meant, the soothsayer interpreted it as Baekje being a full moon and destined to tilt forward, and Silla being a half moon and destined to wax and wane.

when this story spread to Silla, the people of Silla began to make songpyeon in the shape of a half moon instead of the round shape of a full moon, which is the most likely explanation for the origin of songpyeon to this day.

when did songpyeon become a Chuseok staple?

originally, songpyeon wasn't just for Chuseok; it was often made for special occasions.

songpyeon was a spring food in the Joseon Dynasty

in fact, Heo Gyun mentioned songpyeon as a springtime rice cake in his book Domun, a collection of local products and delicacies from the eight provinces of the Joseon Dynasty. in the Dongguksei period, which records the customs of the late Joseon Dynasty, it is written that songpyeon is a rice cake eaten on the first day of February.

it is said that the whole family would make songpyeon and share it among the different age groups. Songpyeon was also made and given to the servants at the beginning of the farming season. There are also records of songpyeon being made and eaten on other special occasions, such as the New Year's Day, the New Moon, and Buddha's Day.

it became a Chuseok food in the 1970s

in fact, the 15th day of the 8th lunar month was the most precious time of the year for rice because it was right before the harvest season. In the past, rice was usually harvested in September and October, so it was difficult for rice cakes to become a staple of Chuseok.

then, in the 1970s, rice production increased dramatically with the introduction of Unified Rice. this new variety, developed in 1971, was characterized by higher productivity and resistance to pests compared to other varieties, so rice was more readily available than ever before.

this, coupled with social changes such as the mass migration of rural populations to cities due to industrialization, led to the rapid spread of songpyeon across the country, marking an important turning point in the history of songpyeon, and its establishment as a signature Chuseok food.

why are songpyeon prices rising?

recently, the price of rice cakes, including songpyeon, has been rising. according to the Korea Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Administration, the price of sticky rice was 6,412 won per kilogram as of July, up 61.1 percentage points from the same period last year.

rice supply shortage is the main cause

the main reason for the rising prices is a shortage of supply compared to demand. The government buys up predicted excess production in advance and keeps it off the market to stabilize rice prices. In 2024, the government predicted a surplus of 123,000 tons of rice, but 200,000 tons more than that was kept off the market to stabilize prices.

however, the actual production was reduced to only 56,000 tons due to extreme weather conditions, and the excess was locked up, resulting in a shortage of rice in the market.

K-food popularity and surging demand for processed rice

the surge in demand for processed rice has also contributed to the shortage, as processed rice, which is usually one to three years old, is used for processed foods such as frozen kimbap and instant rice.

these factors have led to a sharp increase in the price of rice, which in turn has affected the price of shipping. The rising price of rice is likely to continue to affect the price of Chuseok food in the future.

frequently asked questions

Q1. Why do you make songpyeon in the shape of a half moon?

A. It comes from the story of Baekje and Silla during the Three Kingdoms period. it is said that the people of Silla began to shape their songpoms into half-moon shapes after a soothsayer interpreted that Silla was destined to grow fuller and fuller like a half-moon.

Q2. Did the Joseon Dynasty eat songpyeon at Chuseok?

A. No. During the Joseon Dynasty, songpyeon was mainly eaten during various holidays, such as spring, the first day of February, New Year's Day, and the Tet. since Chuseok was right before the harvest, rice was at its most precious, so it didn't become a Chuseok food.

Q3. When did songpyeon become a Chuseok staple?

A. In the 1970s. in 1971, unified rice was developed, which greatly increased rice production, and in conjunction with social changes brought about by industrialization, songpyeon spread across the country and became the representative food of Chuseok.

Q4. Why has the price of songpyeon increased recently?

A. The main cause is the shortage of rice supply. the government quarantined a larger amount of rice from the market than expected, which resulted in a shortage of rice in circulation due to lower actual production. The popularity of K-food has also contributed to a surge in demand for processed rice.

Q5. How much has the price of glutinous rice increased?

A. As of July 2024, the price of sticky rice was 6,412 won per kilogram, up 61.1 percentage points from the same period last year.

conclusion

chuseok Songpyeon is a traditional Korean food with a long history dating back to the Three Kingdoms period. from the meaning behind its half-moon shape, to how it became a Chuseok staple in the 1970s, to the recent price increase, we hope you and your family will enjoy it this Chuseok while reflecting on its deep meaning.

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