Kwajul is one of the traditional dishes favoured by the Korean people.
It is well known for its savoury taste from a harmonious mix of different flavours and for its high nutritional value.
Originally kwajul was the name of traditional cakes as a whole such as yakkwa (a kind of cake made of wheat flour, honey and oil), kangjong (fried glutinous rice cake) and tasik (patterned savoury cake).
Over the time, it came to denote the cake which is made with glutinous rice powder by kneading and fermenting it into thinly rolled dough, with its slices dried, fried and coated with honey, corn syrup and flours of different kinds.
Old records tell kwajul was an indispensable food for weddings, memorial services and New Year’s feasts in the period of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392), which means it was widely spread at that time.
According to the kind of coating material, it was divided into jat (pine nut) kwajul , kkae (sesame) kwajul and paengmi (polished rice) kwajul .
In most cases kwajul was prepared on folk holidays such as the lunar New Year’s Day, birthdays and wedding ceremonies and in honour of a guest.
The cake was made largely in Phyongan, Hamgyong and Kangwon provinces.
In the area of Phyongan province it was made by rolling steamed glutinous rice flour while adding a small amount of liquid of ground soybean, cutting it into 2 to 4-centimetre-long slices. Then the slices were dried, fried and coated with fried white rice.
That of the Hamgyong provincial area was characteristically coated with fried grains of rice which are dyed red or not done so. The local people used the cakes to set a table for wedding or memorial service. What is noteworthy is that both red and white kwajul was used for the table of a wedding but only white one for the table of a memorial service.
Kwajul was so ubiquitous on the table of a wedding in northern part of Hamgyong province that visitors from other areas called the wedding a “ kwajul party.” The local people considered kwajul was indispensable for the table of a wedding.
Jat (pine nut) kwajul was popular in Kangwon province.
Pine nut, a speciality of the province, was widely used by locals to make confectionery.
Jat kwajul was especially popular in the Mt Kumgang area.
The kwajul -making method was put on the national intangible cultural heritage list in May 2016.
Sim Chol Yong
More From Naenara (En)
The 13th enlarged plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) was held on
March 15, 2026
The 13th enlarged plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) was held on
Agricultural workers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) held a meeting in Jaeryong County on March
March 15, 2026
Agricultural workers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) held a meeting in Jaeryong County on March
Joint meetings of working people’s organizations took place in Pyongyang and all provinces (municipalities) of the DPRK to vow to
March 15, 2026
Joint meetings of working people’s organizations took place in Pyongyang and all provinces (municipalities) of the DPRK to vow to
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, first
March 15, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, first
Moving into new houses started in Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un recently attended the
March 15, 2026
Moving into new houses started in Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un recently attended the
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 15, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
Recent years have witnessed a rapid progress in the DPRK’s agriculture.What is noteworthy is that vigorous efforts were made to co
March 15, 2026
Recent years have witnessed a rapid progress in the DPRK’s agriculture.What is noteworthy is that vigorous efforts were made to co
One day in March 2021 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a riverside area near Pothong Gate to examine the layout for a
March 15, 2026
One day in March 2021 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a riverside area near Pothong Gate to examine the layout for a
A pair of ginkgo trees, female and male, grow halfway up Mt Naesong in the township of Kwail County, South Hwanghae Province. The
March 15, 2026
A pair of ginkgo trees, female and male, grow halfway up Mt Naesong in the township of Kwail County, South Hwanghae Province. The
Officials and members of the women’s union held a meeting at the plaza of the Monument to Party Founding on March 12 to vow to imp
March 14, 2026
Officials and members of the women’s union held a meeting at the plaza of the Monument to Party Founding on March 12 to vow to imp
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
March 14, 2026
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
The 15th enlarged plenary meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took
March 14, 2026
The 15th enlarged plenary meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung was the first to kindle the flames of the movement for planting trees in the DPRK. Korea was
March 14, 2026
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung was the first to kindle the flames of the movement for planting trees in the DPRK. Korea was
One day in March 2022 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un climbed Mt Hwasong in the capital city of Pyongyang to plant trees
March 14, 2026
One day in March 2022 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un climbed Mt Hwasong in the capital city of Pyongyang to plant trees
Japan’s moves for reviving militarism, aimed at rearmament, are leading to a full-stage deployment of its preemptive attack
March 14, 2026
Japan’s moves for reviving militarism, aimed at rearmament, are leading to a full-stage deployment of its preemptive attack
Okryugum was invented by Koreans to retain the characteristics of national stringed instruments and meet modern aesthetic feelings
March 14, 2026
Okryugum was invented by Koreans to retain the characteristics of national stringed instruments and meet modern aesthetic feelings
A stamp exhibition opened with due ceremony at the Korean Stamp Exhibition House on March 12 to mark the 80th anniversary of the
March 14, 2026
A stamp exhibition opened with due ceremony at the Korean Stamp Exhibition House on March 12 to mark the 80th anniversary of the
The 2026 Spring Bowling Amateurs Tournament took place at the Pyongyang Gold Lane from March 10 to 12. In the tournament, divided
March 14, 2026
The 2026 Spring Bowling Amateurs Tournament took place at the Pyongyang Gold Lane from March 10 to 12. In the tournament, divided
The constituency committees for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK have concluded the
March 13, 2026
The constituency committees for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK have concluded the
A meeting of workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took place at the Chollima Steel
March 13, 2026
A meeting of workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took place at the Chollima Steel
More Articles
