Among the Korean cultural heritage is the custom of using potato starch.
The custom refers to a way of life of the people in the northern alpine region who have potato starch as a staple. They obtain starch by grinding clean potato to get the sediment which goes through refining and drying processes.
Around 1824-1825 potato began to be raised in the Musan area of Hamgyong province located in the northern part of Korea. And by the 1830s-1840s it spread from Ryanggang Province in the northern region to Kangwon Province in the southern region, according to old documents.
The people in the northern highlands tended to turn potato into starch favourable for storage and use as cold weather persists for most of the year.
The Korean people, who regarded white as a symbol of nobility and integrity, used to comment on the workmanship and kindness of housewives through the colour of the starch they produced. They often said: “Kind is the heart, white is the starch” and “White starch purifies the heart.”
Typical foods include starch noodles, dried starch noodles, and starch cake soup.
The northern alpine people liked to have starch noodles on ordinary days as well as holidays and ceremonies, characteristically seasoned with pungent spices like pepper and garnishes.
In wintertime, people put coils of noodles on snow-covered roofs or hanged them on ropes to freeze-dry them. Such practice is still carried on.
Starch cake soup is a favourite dish in Ryanggang Province. To prepare it, bits of dough are plucked with hand into boiling water to be done; they are cooled in cold water before being mixed with salty and hot spices and served on a bowl. A bowl of soup will leave a burning taste around a diner’s mouth with perspiration on the brow. People believe that it will drive cold out of body in winter.
There are other starch foods such as pancake and taffy.
The custom of using potato starch is inscribed on the national list of the regional intangible heritage items.
Ham Kwang Hyok
More From Naenara (En)
The Podok Hermitage is located in Manphok Valley of Mt Kumgang, a celebrated mountain in the DPRK. It was built in the period of
August 18, 2025
The Podok Hermitage is located in Manphok Valley of Mt Kumgang, a celebrated mountain in the DPRK. It was built in the period of
Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first
August 17, 2025
Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first
Officials, working people, service personnel, youth and students in the DPRK visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and
August 17, 2025
Officials, working people, service personnel, youth and students in the DPRK visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and
An oratorical meeting of youth and students was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph on August 15 to carry forward the
August 17, 2025
An oratorical meeting of youth and students was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph on August 15 to carry forward the
The Korean people celebrated the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation as an all-people auspicious event which marked an immortal
August 17, 2025
The Korean people celebrated the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation as an all-people auspicious event which marked an immortal
A dance party of officials and members of the women’s union was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph on August 15 to celebrate
August 17, 2025
A dance party of officials and members of the women’s union was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph on August 15 to celebrate
The people in the DPRK significantly celebrated the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation as a great auspicious event to be speci
August 17, 2025
The people in the DPRK significantly celebrated the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation as a great auspicious event to be speci
Youth and students held a gala evening at Kim Il Sung Square on August 15 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Korea’s
August 17, 2025
Youth and students held a gala evening at Kim Il Sung Square on August 15 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Korea’s
The delegation of the State Duma of the Russian Federation led by Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin laid a wreath before the Liberation
August 17, 2025
The delegation of the State Duma of the Russian Federation led by Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin laid a wreath before the Liberation
Kim Song Nam, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK and director of the
August 17, 2025
Kim Song Nam, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK and director of the
The delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation left Pyongyang for home on August 15 after visiting the DPRK
August 17, 2025
The delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation left Pyongyang for home on August 15 after visiting the DPRK
The delegation of the State Duma of the Russian Federation led by Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin left Pyongyang for home on August 15
August 17, 2025
The delegation of the State Duma of the Russian Federation led by Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin left Pyongyang for home on August 15
On July 13 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the construction site of the Ragwon County Offshore Farm at the final stage.
August 17, 2025
On July 13 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the construction site of the Ragwon County Offshore Farm at the final stage.
The Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea hosted a reception at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on
August 16, 2025
The Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea hosted a reception at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on
Talks between Choe Ryong Hae, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People’s
August 16, 2025
Talks between Choe Ryong Hae, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People’s
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un works heart and soul for the construction of city and county hospitals with a noble intention to
August 16, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un works heart and soul for the construction of city and county hospitals with a noble intention to
With the approach of the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a song resounds far and wide across the DPRK.
August 16, 2025
With the approach of the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a song resounds far and wide across the DPRK.
Farmers of the Changthae Livestock Farm in Hoeryong City, North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK have moved into new houses.
August 16, 2025
Farmers of the Changthae Livestock Farm in Hoeryong City, North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK have moved into new houses.
The Ice Rink on the picturesque banks of the Pothong River in Pyongyang has been wonderfully renovated when the appearance of
August 16, 2025
The Ice Rink on the picturesque banks of the Pothong River in Pyongyang has been wonderfully renovated when the appearance of
A delegation of the State Duma of the Russian Federation led by Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin arrived in Pyongyang on August 14 to
August 16, 2025
A delegation of the State Duma of the Russian Federation led by Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin arrived in Pyongyang on August 14 to
More Articles
