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)
At the invitation of Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Aleksandr
March 25, 2026
At the invitation of Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Aleksandr
The Sangwon Cement Complex, a DPRK’s giant cement producer, is boosting production as never before. The Sangwon Limestone Mine
March 25, 2026
The Sangwon Cement Complex, a DPRK’s giant cement producer, is boosting production as never before. The Sangwon Limestone Mine
Sea Chilbo is part of Mt Chilbo, a celebrated mountain in the DPRK famous for its beautiful and distinctive scenery.The area of Se
March 25, 2026
Sea Chilbo is part of Mt Chilbo, a celebrated mountain in the DPRK famous for its beautiful and distinctive scenery.The area of Se
Among the national intangible cultural heritage items of the DPRK are legends of Ulji Mun Dok, a patriotic general in the period
March 25, 2026
Among the national intangible cultural heritage items of the DPRK are legends of Ulji Mun Dok, a patriotic general in the period
The scallop-harvesting season has started in the Sinpho City Offshore Farm, which was built as a model of offshore farming on the
March 25, 2026
The scallop-harvesting season has started in the Sinpho City Offshore Farm, which was built as a model of offshore farming on the
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 25, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
Medical workers of the Breast Tumour Institute of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital offer field service at the lowest curative and
March 25, 2026
Medical workers of the Breast Tumour Institute of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital offer field service at the lowest curative and
The DPRK is proactively working to cope with disastrous abnormal weather in its effort to protect state and public wealth and
March 24, 2026
The DPRK is proactively working to cope with disastrous abnormal weather in its effort to protect state and public wealth and
One day in May 1998, Chairman Kim Jong Il was on his field guidance trip in Changdo County of Kangwon Province before he suddenly
March 24, 2026
One day in May 1998, Chairman Kim Jong Il was on his field guidance trip in Changdo County of Kangwon Province before he suddenly
A pagoda called Saja (lion) is located at the Kumjang Hermitage in the Naegumgang-ri, Kumgang County, Kangwon Province. The
March 24, 2026
A pagoda called Saja (lion) is located at the Kumjang Hermitage in the Naegumgang-ri, Kumgang County, Kangwon Province. The
Some foreigners who have been to the DPRK advise their fellows: “If you want to visit Pyongyang, I recommend you should apply for
March 24, 2026
Some foreigners who have been to the DPRK advise their fellows: “If you want to visit Pyongyang, I recommend you should apply for
March 23 is World Meteorological Day. In January the World Meteorological Organization released a report that 2025 was recorded as
March 23, 2026
March 23 is World Meteorological Day. In January the World Meteorological Organization released a report that 2025 was recorded as
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 23, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK elected the Legislation Committee, the Budget Committee and
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK elected the Legislation Committee, the Budget Committee and
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the director of the
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the director of the
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the members of the
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the members of the
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea elected the State Affairs
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea elected the State Affairs
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea elected the Standing
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea elected the Standing
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK conducted the important and responsible work for electing
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK conducted the important and responsible work for electing
Deputy Ko Kil Son, secretary general of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, made an opening speech at the
March 23, 2026
Deputy Ko Kil Son, secretary general of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, made an opening speech at the
More Articles
