Soybean paste has been widely known as a health food for its nutritive value.
It has a long history as an excellent national food which characterizes the outstanding wisdom, creativity and unique dietary culture of the Korean nation.
Inscriptions on Koguryo tomb murals say that a large number of people were mobilized to carry out a huge project during which they consumed all of jang (soy sauce and soybean paste) in a store, as well as white rice and meat.
As can be seen through such proverbs as “Though the appearance of earthen bowl is poor, the taste of jang is good” and “Sweet jang , sweet home,” the Korean ancestors regarded jang as an important thing vital to the rise and fall of a family.
As each family prepared its own jang , the methods and tastes differed, and a family’s nobility depended on the taste of jang .
It is said that there were so many jang -making methods that a girl in Kaesong had to master scores of methods before she got married.
The traditional method is as follows:
At around Ripttong (the beginning of winter according to the lunar calendar that falls on November 7 or 8), well-ripened beans are put in water for a day before boiling them hard and pounding them in a mortar. Then, make them into balls 10 to 15 cm in diameter. The ball is called meju (soybean malt).
Wrap them in rice straws and hang them for a few months in a well-ventilated place at certain temperatures to dry with maltase growing in them.
In March of next year, crush the dried balls, put them in a sterilized jar, pour salt and water there in the 3-1 ratio, and leave the jar open to clean air and sunlight every morning.
Two or three months later, there comes black liquid in the jar. Pour it in a saucepan and boil it to make soy sauce, and ferment the leftover to make paste.
As seen above, the Koreans have long since made soy sauce, bean paste and red-peppered paste with bean and salt as the basic ingredients and developed them into a unique fermented food peculiar to the nation.
Red-peppered paste was made in any regions of the country and, in particular, the one from Kaesong was most famous.
The jang -making custom has been registered on the list of national intangible cultural heritage.
Jo Il Gyong, head of the Intangible Cultural Office of the Korean National Heritage Preservation Agency
More From Naenara (En)
Ryomyong Primary School in Taesong District, Pyongyang, is steadily improving the educational informatization. In a bid to make
February 28, 2026
Ryomyong Primary School in Taesong District, Pyongyang, is steadily improving the educational informatization. In a bid to make
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
February 28, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The Mindulle Notebook Factory is situated on the banks of the Pothong River in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. The
February 28, 2026
The Mindulle Notebook Factory is situated on the banks of the Pothong River in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. The
From olden times Korea has been called a land of golden tapestry for its beautiful mountains and limpid streams. The mountains and
February 28, 2026
From olden times Korea has been called a land of golden tapestry for its beautiful mountains and limpid streams. The mountains and
The Paektusan Millyong Hot Spring is located in the city of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province in the northern part of the DPRK. In the
February 28, 2026
The Paektusan Millyong Hot Spring is located in the city of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province in the northern part of the DPRK. In the
Receptions were given in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
February 27, 2026
Receptions were given in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in January 2021 set it as a core task in socialist construction to
February 27, 2026
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in January 2021 set it as a core task in socialist construction to
Days ago, the inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area celebrating the overfulfilment of the
February 27, 2026
Days ago, the inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area celebrating the overfulfilment of the
One day in November 2021, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Phothae-dong, Samjiyon City. The dwelling houses and
February 27, 2026
One day in November 2021, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Phothae-dong, Samjiyon City. The dwelling houses and
February 16 witnessed a splendid inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area in Pyongyang, the
February 27, 2026
February 16 witnessed a splendid inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area in Pyongyang, the
The Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp opened in the DPRK.The holiday camp, located in a picturesque place, has hot spring therap
February 27, 2026
The Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp opened in the DPRK.The holiday camp, located in a picturesque place, has hot spring therap
A grand artistic performance was given at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
February 27, 2026
A grand artistic performance was given at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
The Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea invited veteran cadres who had worked for a long time at important posts of
February 26, 2026
The Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea invited veteran cadres who had worked for a long time at important posts of
Remarkable successes have been achieved in the educational sector over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the
February 26, 2026
Remarkable successes have been achieved in the educational sector over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the
On February 16, a splendid inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area was held in the DPRK’s
February 26, 2026
On February 16, a splendid inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area was held in the DPRK’s
The whole of the DPRK is overflowing with the great joy and strong emotion of the people as they splendidly celebrate the glorious
February 26, 2026
The whole of the DPRK is overflowing with the great joy and strong emotion of the people as they splendidly celebrate the glorious
Celebrated mountains, scenic spots and historical sites and relics in different parts of the DPRK are associated with many myths,
February 26, 2026
Celebrated mountains, scenic spots and historical sites and relics in different parts of the DPRK are associated with many myths,
The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opened in the DPRK. The festival’s theme is
February 26, 2026
The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opened in the DPRK. The festival’s theme is
The 14th Asian Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships took place in India from October 31 to November 2 last year. DPRK players Ro Hye
February 26, 2026
The 14th Asian Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships took place in India from October 31 to November 2 last year. DPRK players Ro Hye
The DPRK has greeted a new history of comprehensive prosperity, both in the capital city and provinces and in towns and
February 25, 2026
The DPRK has greeted a new history of comprehensive prosperity, both in the capital city and provinces and in towns and
More Articles
