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)
The Kyonghung Daily Necessities Manufactory is located in Mangyongdae District, Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. Recently
May 27, 2026
The Kyonghung Daily Necessities Manufactory is located in Mangyongdae District, Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. Recently
Growing deeper and higher with each passing day are the respect and moral obligation to the brave soldiers who dedicated their
May 27, 2026
Growing deeper and higher with each passing day are the respect and moral obligation to the brave soldiers who dedicated their
Since its founding, the DPRK has always paid close attention to the reclamation of tideland. At the Eighth Congress of the
May 27, 2026
Since its founding, the DPRK has always paid close attention to the reclamation of tideland. At the Eighth Congress of the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a shipyard some years ago. The shipyard ranks among the country’s leading shipbuilding
May 27, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a shipyard some years ago. The shipyard ranks among the country’s leading shipbuilding
Vivian Balakrishnan, foreign minister of the Republic of Singapore, and his party arrived in Pyongyang on May 26 to visit the
May 27, 2026
Vivian Balakrishnan, foreign minister of the Republic of Singapore, and his party arrived in Pyongyang on May 26 to visit the
The creation of five revolutionary operas in the DPRK opened a new phase of operatic art, writing a significant chapter in the
May 26, 2026
The creation of five revolutionary operas in the DPRK opened a new phase of operatic art, writing a significant chapter in the
The education sector of the DPRK has recently been pushing ahead with the efforts to raise the country’s education onto an
May 26, 2026
The education sector of the DPRK has recently been pushing ahead with the efforts to raise the country’s education onto an
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a newly built regional-industry factory in Jangyon County in December 2025. Looking
May 26, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a newly built regional-industry factory in Jangyon County in December 2025. Looking
An outreach education programme is briskly conducted in the DPRK to strengthen the ranks of medical workers in regions. It is a
May 25, 2026
An outreach education programme is briskly conducted in the DPRK to strengthen the ranks of medical workers in regions. It is a
The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea decided to convene the Second Plenary Meeting of
May 25, 2026
The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea decided to convene the Second Plenary Meeting of
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
May 25, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
Just like we did in the past five-year struggle in which we pioneered the era of comprehensive development of socialism, we will
May 25, 2026
Just like we did in the past five-year struggle in which we pioneered the era of comprehensive development of socialism, we will
The Kumkhop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspeople is a famous factory which turns out a range of tasty foods. The factory
May 25, 2026
The Kumkhop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspeople is a famous factory which turns out a range of tasty foods. The factory
Written by Han Tok Su and set to music by Ri Myon Sang, “Endless Is Our Pride” is very popular with Koreans resident in Japan.The
May 25, 2026
Written by Han Tok Su and set to music by Ri Myon Sang, “Endless Is Our Pride” is very popular with Koreans resident in Japan.The
The Naegohyang Team of the DPRK took first place in the 2025-2026 AFC Women’s Champions League and had the honour of winning a tro
May 25, 2026
The Naegohyang Team of the DPRK took first place in the 2025-2026 AFC Women’s Champions League and had the honour of winning a tro
Recently Segori Senior Middle School in Pothonggang District, Pyongyang, has achieved successes by actively running a table tennis
May 24, 2026
Recently Segori Senior Middle School in Pothonggang District, Pyongyang, has achieved successes by actively running a table tennis
In April, a project for overhauling the structures of the waterway running from Thaechon Power Station No. 5 to Unjon, Jongju and
May 24, 2026
In April, a project for overhauling the structures of the waterway running from Thaechon Power Station No. 5 to Unjon, Jongju and
Jonwi Street is located in the Sopho area of Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. In December 2022, when the task for the
May 24, 2026
Jonwi Street is located in the Sopho area of Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. In December 2022, when the task for the
DPRK weightlifters returned home on May 22 after taking part in the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships. At the weightlifting
May 24, 2026
DPRK weightlifters returned home on May 22 after taking part in the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships. At the weightlifting
Koryo celadon is part of the cultural heritage showcasing the artistic prowess and talents of the Korean people. The bluish
May 23, 2026
Koryo celadon is part of the cultural heritage showcasing the artistic prowess and talents of the Korean people. The bluish
More Articles
