Before the three kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje were established on the Korean Peninsula, the Korean people made rice cakes by pounding grain flour. The tools used to steam the rice cakes, called "siru," and to peel and grind the grain into flour, such as "galpan" and "galdol," have been discovered at Bronze Age archaeological sites in Korea. According to the Korean history book Samguk Sagi, in 298 A.D., a person whose number of teeth increased after he bit into a rice cake was chosen to be the King. Rice cakes, which have a long history, have begun to emerge as a new K-Food globally. Traditional food made in every home is now spreading beyond the domestic market to the world. The main products are "tteokguk (sliced rice cake soup) tteok" and "tteokboki (fried rice cake) tteok" made from garaetteok (rice cake stick). These rice cakes are among the top 10 rice cake favorites in Korea. However, unlike most other rice cakes that are chosen as snacks or for special occasions, "tteokguk tteok" and "tteokbokki tteok" are sold as food for everyday meals regardless of social class, region, location, or season, making them the best-selling rice cakes in both the domestic and overseas markets. The influence of BTS's tteokbokki eating video has also contributed significantly to the worldwide recognition of spicy Korean cuisine. It helped open the doors for exporting Korean tteok overseas, and now it's a huge hit around the world. In terms of domestic rice cake production in 2021, tteokbokki tteok accounted for 71.6% with a production value of 112.1 billion won, tteokguk tteok accounted for 23.3% with a production value of 36.5 billion won, and other rice cakes accounted for 5.0% with a production value of 7.9 billion won. Tteokbokki tteok is mostly sold in the form of frozen meal kits or as easy-to-cook microwaveable food. Tteokguk tteok is packaged and distributed in a form that is convenient for cooking at any time. The annual growth rate of rice cake production in Korea is increasing significantly, with a growth rate of 18.4% in 2019, 9.3% in 2020, and 36.8% in 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rice cakes were often used as a meal substitute, and interest in health has continued to grow, leading to a greater love for rice cakes made from rice rather than flour, sugar, and salt. The trend of nostalgia for tradition has also increased the popularity of rice cakes as a traditional food among young people. As a result, the production and consumption of rice cakes in Korea, both domestically and abroad, has been growing rapidly. In 2020, there were 201 rice cake manufacturers in Korea. As Korean rice cake exporters began to supply products that can be distributed at room temperature and have excellent elasticity in quality after cooking, Korea's rice cake exports have continued to increase. In 2021, the export value of rice cake was USD65.85 million, an increase of 22.5% from the previous year. The export volume was 19,903 tons, an increase of 17.1% over the same period in the previous year. The export value of rice cake, which was only USD16.03 million in 2017, has increased more than four times to USD65.85 million in just five years. The export volume has also increased more than threefold from 6,008 tons in 2017 to 19,903 tons in 2021. In 2021, the United States was the largest export market with an export value of USD18.47 million and an export volume of 6,050 tons. Next, the top four countries accounted for 60.8% of exports in the order of Japan, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The exports to Indonesia increased by 348% from USD780,000 in 2019 to USD3.52 million in 2020. The exports to the Middle Eastern market were USD1.44 million in 2021, an increase of 70.9% compared to 2020. The European market also saw an increase in export value, which was USD6.51 million in 2021, an increase of 51.9% compared to 2020. Gungjeonbang, a rice cake specialty company founded in 1983, saw an increase in its export revenue by about 15% from USD4.75 million in 2021 to USD5.43 million in 2022. Exports account for about 80% of the company's total sales. "Chilkap Agriculture" is the number one rice cake manufacturer in Korea, exporting to more than 50 countries. Since its establishment in 1992, the company has a production capacity of up to 250 tons per day. "School Days' Tteokbokki, which exports to over 35 countries with an export value of over USD3 million, is unique in that it is made of flour instead of rice cake. There is also "Mongsili", a barley-based rice cake specialty company, and "Dduckhamji", which exports ssuk injeolmi (bean powder coated rice cake with mugwort), ssuk chapssaltteok (mugwort sweet rice cake with red bean filling), and other products. "Saimdang Food has entered the Japanese market with its fusion rice cake brand "Gomesiru". This followed its expansion into the U.S., Australia, and Canada. In addition, many different types of rice cakes continue to carry on the tradition and cultural heritage of their regions. Large and small specialty rice cake companies continue to emerge, and it is expected that new and diverse Korean rice cakes will continue to appear on the world stage in the future. Therefore, the global boom of Korean rice cakes has only just begun.

Jeollanam-do, located in the south of the Korean Peninsula, is where you can visit many tourist attractions such as a national park, the sea, and a temple. In addition, it is where you can experience the most Korean taste. There, for whatever dish you order, you can enjoy a myriad of accompanying side dishes that could break the table legs. So, it is a highly sought-after region for a food trip. It is crowded with visitors who want to enjoy various foods, temples, and superb natural landscapes. It is, in fact, visited by some 35 million domestic and foreign tourists each year. Recently, boosted by the popularity as a tourist destination, various tour products including an overnight trip course and a day trip course have been introduced. introduces tour courses connecting major cities there and must-see destinations you would not want to miss out when you decide to make a trip to Jeollanam-do. #Food Trip to Mokpo where You Can Enjoy the Pleasures of the Table Mokpo is a port city having an extensive history of 110 years after opening its port. Abutting on the sea, it overflows with various seafoods caught from islets and mudflats of the west coast and the south coast of Korea. It is famous particularly for dishes made with long-legged octopuses, croakers, blue crabs, and skates. Among these, a skate fish is a popular food that is never left out from feast tables in Mokpo. It is so popular that there is a saying that, if there is no skate fish on a feast table, they storm out of the place where the feast is held. A Mokpo’s signature dish called hongeo samhap(fermented skate and steamed pork slices served with ripened kimchi) can offer you a unique experience that can make you feel as if your nose suddenly got wide open when you try some. In addition to the fish dish, kkotgejang(marinated blue crab) is so popular that it is called by its nickname “rice thief.” There are two types of blue crab dishes: blue crabs marinated in soy sauce and blue crabs marinated with a spicy sauce made of chili peppers. They are so delicious that no accompanying side dishes are needed. A croaker, which is a perfect fish in the summer season, is made into a dish of sliced raw fish and a bowl of soup and is considered a high-end dish. Also, long-legged octopus, which is called the ginseng in the mudflat, is made into a dish of stir-fried octopus with a spicy sauce or a dish of octopus mixed with vinegar dressing. The tastes of which are to die for. Before you hit the road, how about filling your stomach with these delicious dishes. #Healing Trip to Suncheon where You can Fully Enjoy Fascinating Natural Scenery and Traditional Culture Suncheon is where there are many traditional and natural tourist attractions in Jeollanam-do. In the city, there are beautiful lakes like Juamho and Sangsaho where you can appreciate the mesmerizing scenery with a sunset glow. There is also the Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve where you can fully enjoy an experience that can make you feel as if you were united with nature. The wetland reserve is the largest reed bed in Korea. Feathers of reeds billow in the sunshine and are viewed in different colors by the sunlight, which creates a spectacular sight. The wetland reserve is the first habitat for waterbirds in Korea, and it was registered as a Ramsar wetland in 2008 according to the Ramsar Convention on wetlands of international importance. It is indeed a treasury of nature where as many as 140 kinds of birds including snipes and mallard ducks inhabit. In addition, there is Naganeupseong Folk Village that is located nearby and offers visitors a chance to experience the traditional culture of Korea. It has been well preserved, and so you can look around many more historic remains. There are still many households residing in traditional houses, which offers a unique and special sight. What’s more, there is Songgwangsa Temple, one of the representing Buddhist temples in Korea. So, it makes Suncheon all the more special. You can stay at the temple which was built about 1,000 years ago by applying for the temple stay program. You can have peace of mind while you stay at the temple. #Romantic Trip to Yeosu where You can Get Soaked with the Romantic Beauty of the South Sea Yeosu is also a must-see tourist destination in Jeollanam-do that is next to Suncheon. In spring, cherry blossoms and azaleas are in full bloom. In fall, Yeongchwisan Mountain is clad in red with maple trees, and it is thus particularly popular among mountain hikers. From the peak of the mountain, you can see large and small islands and islets that spread down the ground like a beautiful picture. These islands and islets form Dadohaehaesang National Park, which is the largest national park in Korea. The national park consists of 463 islands and islets. The most famous island there is Heuksando, which is located at the end of the sea area at the southwestern tip according to the classification of administrative districts in Korea. Due to its geographical conditions, it is renowned as an island where Taiwanese and Japanese ships take shelter from bad weather for a short time. In Yeosu, there is another tourist attraction where you can see about 33,000 kinds of marine life. It is the very Aqua Planet where the Aqua Fantasy Show takes place five times a day. While passing through the aquarium tunnel, you can see sharks up close above your head. In Yeosu, you can also enjoy local foods and fresh seafood dishes at cart bars near the sea illuminated in various colors at night. At the end of your trip, you can take a rest from the fatigue at traditional Korean houses you can encounter in some places of Yeosu. *Additional Info.: “Namdo Wheel,” A Tour Product Offering A Convenient and Laid-back Trip to Jeollanam-do Namdo Wheel is a bus tour product that associates a bus route with a theme of each city in Jeollanam-do and provides convenience to foreign tourists. It offers various routes including ones for a day tour course, a traditional market course, and a 1 night and 2 days course. Cities tourists can visit by bus are slightly different on each day of the week, and you can choose a course you want to go round to your taste. The bus fare for the courses departing from Muan International Airport is 9,900 won for an adult. ‧ http://citytour.jeonnam.go.kr/course_12.html