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 respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm under construction on January 2. All the young
January 25, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm under construction on January 2. All the young
The traditional taffy-making practice is on the DPRK’s national intangible cultural heritage list.Korean ancestors found out that
January 25, 2026
The traditional taffy-making practice is on the DPRK’s national intangible cultural heritage list.Korean ancestors found out that
The entire Party, all the people and the whole army are accelerating their revolutionary advance towards the historic Ninth
January 24, 2026
The entire Party, all the people and the whole army are accelerating their revolutionary advance towards the historic Ninth
New villages were wonderfully built at the Township Farm in Yonsan County and the Sonam Farm in Sinphyong County, North Hwanghae
January 24, 2026
New villages were wonderfully built at the Township Farm in Yonsan County and the Sonam Farm in Sinphyong County, North Hwanghae
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in the speech at the New Year 2026 celebration that he will never exchange for anything
January 24, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in the speech at the New Year 2026 celebration that he will never exchange for anything
A solar power plant was newly built in Kim Hyong Gwon County, Ryanggang Province, with the help of a technical team from the
January 24, 2026
A solar power plant was newly built in Kim Hyong Gwon County, Ryanggang Province, with the help of a technical team from the
The 2026 National Schoolchildren’s Games opened with due ceremony at the Samjiyon Schoolchildren’s Palace in Samjiyon City on Janu
January 24, 2026
The 2026 National Schoolchildren’s Games opened with due ceremony at the Samjiyon Schoolchildren’s Palace in Samjiyon City on Janu
The area of Yombunjin renowned as a scenic spot on the east coast of the DPRK is presenting new scenery of regional development.
January 24, 2026
The area of Yombunjin renowned as a scenic spot on the east coast of the DPRK is presenting new scenery of regional development.
in Sonjuk-dong, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK was established in the later period of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) and rebuilt
January 24, 2026
in Sonjuk-dong, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK was established in the later period of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) and rebuilt
In November last year the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Hoeyang Army-People Power Station built by the people of
January 23, 2026
In November last year the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Hoeyang Army-People Power Station built by the people of
Working people in Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK have remodelled the finishing materials factory in their locality. The
January 23, 2026
Working people in Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK have remodelled the finishing materials factory in their locality. The
Several rural villages in South Phyongan Province have undergone radical changes. Modern houses have been built in Soje-ri of
January 23, 2026
Several rural villages in South Phyongan Province have undergone radical changes. Modern houses have been built in Soje-ri of
Koryo paper takes an important place in Korean culture. Several kinds of paper were produced in the period of the Koryo dynasty
January 23, 2026
Koryo paper takes an important place in Korean culture. Several kinds of paper were produced in the period of the Koryo dynasty
The Mt Paektu area located in the northernmost part of the DPRK is abundant in tourist resources. The area unfolds distinctive
January 23, 2026
The Mt Paektu area located in the northernmost part of the DPRK is abundant in tourist resources. The area unfolds distinctive
In recent years new rural houses have been mushrooming across the DPRK–from the remote mountain villages in the northern areas
January 22, 2026
In recent years new rural houses have been mushrooming across the DPRK–from the remote mountain villages in the northern areas
One night in June 2018, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Pyongyang Taedonggang Fish Restaurant built on the banks of
January 22, 2026
One night in June 2018, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Pyongyang Taedonggang Fish Restaurant built on the banks of
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex in the DPRK. The catalyst production base is
January 22, 2026
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex in the DPRK. The catalyst production base is
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) in his teens embarked on a 250-mile journey with a resolve to win back Korea’s
January 22, 2026
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) in his teens embarked on a 250-mile journey with a resolve to win back Korea’s
Mountainous villages in Jagang Province of the DPRK are turning into fairyland ones. There took place house-moving in Puji-ri of
January 22, 2026
Mountainous villages in Jagang Province of the DPRK are turning into fairyland ones. There took place house-moving in Puji-ri of
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in his speech at the event to celebrate the New Year 2026 that he would never exchange for
January 21, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in his speech at the event to celebrate the New Year 2026 that he would never exchange for
More Articles
