November 11th is known as "Pepero Day" in Korea, a day when men and women exchange snacks like Pepero and Pocky. However, it’s also a national holiday called "Farmer’s Day."
The South Korean government established Farmer’s Day as a legal holiday in 1996 to promote public awareness of agriculture as a foundation of the national economy and to foster pride among farmers. This day is also known as “Garaetteok Day.” In 2003, employees at AhnLab (formerly Ahn Chul-Soo Research Institute) celebrated by sharing garaetteok instead of Pepero, marking the first such event.
Since 2006, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has taken the lead in promoting Farmer’s Day and holding events to encourage rice consumption. Events where garaetteok is gifted have become more common, not only in public offices, schools, and kindergartens but also in private companies.
Garaetteok is a traditional Korean food made by kneading rice flour with water and shaping it into long rice cakes.
The term "garae" means “long and wide,” and the white rice cake represents purity and cleanliness. The shape, which resembles the number 1, has led to many events featuring garaetteok held on November 11.
Garaetteok contains around 200 kcal per 100 grams. While it is high in carbohydrates, it digests slowly, providing a lasting feeling of fullness. The dietary fiber in garaetteok aids digestion and promotes regular bowel movements.
Garaetteok can be enjoyed as a snack when dipped in syrup or powdered soy flour, used in spicy stir-fried dishes like tteokbokki, or added to rice cake soup for Seollal (Lunar New Year). When coated and fried, it makes a delicious, crispy snack on a stick.
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, pre-packaged garaetteok has a shelf life of around three days, after which it’s best stored in the freezer.
For Korean shopping and business agency services
Comments