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 past five years have witnessed an unprecedented housing boom in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. The Eighth Congress
January 16, 2026
The past five years have witnessed an unprecedented housing boom in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. The Eighth Congress
The workers of the General Tideland Reclamation Enterprise of North Phyongan Province successfully completed the construction of
January 16, 2026
The workers of the General Tideland Reclamation Enterprise of North Phyongan Province successfully completed the construction of
Kangwon Province is noted for rugged mountains and deep valleys. So far the province has built many small- and medium-sized
January 16, 2026
Kangwon Province is noted for rugged mountains and deep valleys. So far the province has built many small- and medium-sized
Last year acrobats of the DPRK acquitted themselves well in the international arena. The DPRK’s physical acrobatics “Fliers”
January 16, 2026
Last year acrobats of the DPRK acquitted themselves well in the international arena. The DPRK’s physical acrobatics “Fliers”
New socialist ideal farm villages have been built in Kangwon Province of the DPRK, adding pleasure to the people. Dwelling houses
January 16, 2026
New socialist ideal farm villages have been built in Kangwon Province of the DPRK, adding pleasure to the people. Dwelling houses
New houses have appeared at the Sugye Farm in Unsan County and the Mungok Livestock Farm in Nyongwon County, South Phyongan
January 15, 2026
New houses have appeared at the Sugye Farm in Unsan County and the Mungok Livestock Farm in Nyongwon County, South Phyongan
In 2025, too, the DPRK made steady efforts to ramp up its national defence capabilities and safeguard the security of the nation
January 15, 2026
In 2025, too, the DPRK made steady efforts to ramp up its national defence capabilities and safeguard the security of the nation
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the then Pyongyang Municipal Mushroom Farm on January 9, 2015. Feasting his eyes on a
January 15, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the then Pyongyang Municipal Mushroom Farm on January 9, 2015. Feasting his eyes on a
Emperor Kojong, monarch of the feudal Joson dynasty, was poisoned to death by the Japanese imperialists on January 21, 1919.The mu
January 15, 2026
Emperor Kojong, monarch of the feudal Joson dynasty, was poisoned to death by the Japanese imperialists on January 21, 1919.The mu
Kim Song, permanent representative of the DPRK to the UN, issued the following press statement on January 13: Another unusual
January 14, 2026
Kim Song, permanent representative of the DPRK to the UN, issued the following press statement on January 13: Another unusual
The Wonsan General Fishing Implements Factory was inaugurated in Kangwon Province, the DPRK. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un
January 14, 2026
The Wonsan General Fishing Implements Factory was inaugurated in Kangwon Province, the DPRK. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un
Last year the Sangwon Cement Complex managed to increase the cement production by hundreds of thousands of tons. The complex set a
January 14, 2026
Last year the Sangwon Cement Complex managed to increase the cement production by hundreds of thousands of tons. The complex set a
In the DPRK the Worker-Peasant Red Guards constitute one of the two pillars of the country’s armed forces together with the
January 14, 2026
In the DPRK the Worker-Peasant Red Guards constitute one of the two pillars of the country’s armed forces together with the
Modern houses have been built at the Hwangju Township Farm of the North Hwanghae Provincial Rural Economy Committee and the
January 14, 2026
Modern houses have been built at the Hwangju Township Farm of the North Hwanghae Provincial Rural Economy Committee and the
A photo exhibition “Bringing up a large contingent of successors to the revolution and patriotic youth with great policy of
January 14, 2026
A photo exhibition “Bringing up a large contingent of successors to the revolution and patriotic youth with great policy of
Shuttlecock game is played by kicking the shuttlecock to perform various stunts or compete to kick it more than others.As one of t
January 14, 2026
Shuttlecock game is played by kicking the shuttlecock to perform various stunts or compete to kick it more than others.As one of t
Last year the DPRK built many public sports and leisure facilities in various places. The Ice Rink in the capital city of
January 14, 2026
Last year the DPRK built many public sports and leisure facilities in various places. The Ice Rink in the capital city of
One day in September 2020, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited Kangbuk-ri, Kumchon County, North Hwanghae Province, which
January 13, 2026
One day in September 2020, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited Kangbuk-ri, Kumchon County, North Hwanghae Province, which
The DPRK is promoting medical sci-tech exchanges. Symposiums and seminars in the field of medical sciences are held every year.
January 13, 2026
The DPRK is promoting medical sci-tech exchanges. Symposiums and seminars in the field of medical sciences are held every year.
2025 marked the final year of the implementation of the five-year plan for national economic development set forth at the Eighth
January 13, 2026
2025 marked the final year of the implementation of the five-year plan for national economic development set forth at the Eighth
More Articles
