the approach of Chuseok conjures up warm memories of families gathering around the table to make songpyeon. the half-moon-shaped rice cakes cooked in a steamer filled with the scent of pine needles, releasing white steam, are an iconic Chuseok food. But how much do we know about this familiar dish? Why it's shaped like a half-moon, when it became a symbol of the festival, and what secrets lie behind its recent rise in price. today, we're going to take you on a journey through the fascinating history and economics of Chuseok Songpyeon, as well as a delicious journey across the country.
1. chuseok, why do we make half-moon songpyeon?
1.1. A half moon instead of a full moon, a wish for victory in the Three Kingdoms Sagas
chuseok is celebrated on a full moon, which symbolizes abundance, so why do we make half-moon shaped cakes instead of full moons? The answer can be found in the Three Kingdoms chronicles, which go back a thousand years.
during the reign of Baekje's Chair King, a turtle was found in the palace grounds with the words "Baekje is a round moon, Silla is a half moon" written on its carapace. A fortune teller interpreted this as "Baekje is already a full moon and only needs to tilt, while Silla is a half moon and is destined to grow fuller and more prosperous in the future. when this story reached Silla, the Silla people began to bake rice cakes in the shape of a half moon to pray for the prosperity and victory of the country. In other words, the half moon shape of the songpyeon is more than just a simple shape, it contains the deepest wishes of our ancestors for future hope and development.
1.2. Was Songpyeon actually a spring rice cake, not fall?
surprisingly, Songpyeon wasn't always a Chuseok-only rice cake. in the Dokmun Daejak (屠門大嚼), written by Heo Gyun during the Joseon Dynasty, songpyeon is described as a "spring rice cake" and in the Dongguksegi (東國歲時記) as a "rice cake eaten on the first day of February in the lunar calendar. at the time, it was customary to give out rice cakes to elderly servants to commemorate the start of the farming season, which was also known as "age rice cakes." As such, songpyeon was a favorite food not only for Chuseok, but also for other holidays and special occasions, such as New Year's Day and Buddha's Day.
2. when did songpyeon become a 'Chuseok signature food'?
2.1. When rice was scarce
songpyeon didn't become a symbol of Chuseok until much later than you might think. In the past, the main rice harvest season was in September and October. the 15th day of the 15th lunar month, Chuseok, was the time of year when rice was most scarce, just before the harvest. Under these circumstances, it was difficult for rice cakes made with rice to become the representative food of Chuseok.
2.2. How 'Unified Rice' changed the history of Chuseok table setting
this paradox was solved in the 1970s. this is thanks to 'Unified Rice'. developed in 1971, Unified Rice was a new variety of rice that was resistant to pests and had a much higher yield. Crucially, it was an early-season variety of rice that could be harvested around Chuseok. The introduction of Unified Rice led to an explosion in rice production, making it possible to have an abundance of rice for Chuseok. coupled with industrialization and urbanization, the culture of making rice cakes to give thanks to ancestors and share abundance spread across the country and became firmly established as the "representative food of Chuseok" today. This is an interesting example of how advances in agricultural technology have changed and perfected our traditional culture.
3. why pine needles are laid and steamed: the science behind ancestral wisdom
as its name suggests, pine needles are inseparable from pine trees. there are several scientific reasons behind the use of pine needles when making mochi. first, the pine needles prevent the mochi from sticking together and pressing against the bottom of the steamer, keeping them in a nice half-moon shape. Second, the subtle pine aroma infuses the mochi, adding flavor and creating a natural pattern on the surface of the mochi, adding to its beauty. the most important reason is the phytoncides contained in pine needles. phytoncides are a natural substance with powerful antibacterial properties and act as a natural preservative that prevents the rice cakes from spoiling easily. It's an amazing wisdom of our ancestors to keep food last longer in the early fall, when the heat was still intense and there was no refrigeration.
4. chuseok Songpyeon prices in 2025: why are they so high?
recently, the price of rice cakes, including songpyeon, has been skyrocketing. According to the Korea Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Distribution Corporation, the price of glutinous rice has increased by more than 60% year-on-year. This is due to a combination of factors.
4.1. The main culprit: the government's market isolation policy
in order to stabilize rice prices, the government buys up excess production in advance of a predicted bumper crop and keeps it off the market. in 2024, the government sequestered a larger amount of rice than expected. However, due to abnormal weather conditions, actual rice production was lower than expected, resulting in an artificial shortage of rice on the market as the excess was locked up. This was a direct trigger for the rise in rice prices.
4.2. The butterfly effect of the K-food craze
the global popularity of K-foods added fuel to the fire. the demand for processed rice exploded as exports of frozen kimbap, cup rice, tteokbokki, and other processed rice foods soared. As processed food companies bought up rice from the general market to meet the shortage, the shortage became even more severe. In the end, the two factors - government policies and the global K-food craze - converged to affect the price of the rice on our tables.
5. a tour of the country's eight provinces: What's your neighborhood songpyeon?
songpyeon has a unique personality depending on the specialties and culture of each region. what's your neighborhood songpyeon like?
6. fun stories about songpyeon
songpyeon has been passed down through various folklore and customs. for example, "If you make a beautiful songbun, you will give birth to a beautiful daughter," which is a fun myth that encourages people to put their heart and soul into preparing holiday food. Another is that a pregnant woman would place a pine needle horizontally in the songbun, steam it, and then bite into it to predict whether she would have a boy if the pointy end of the pine needle came out or a girl if the wide end came out.
in recent years, fusion versions of the dish have become popular, with exotic fillings such as cream cheese and sweet potato mousse. Also, while the Chucheong (Akibare) variety of rice was once the preferred rice for the dish, newer varieties such as Champdrim and Alchanmi, which have a better rice flavor, are now being used to make chewier and tastier versions of the dish.
related article: Learn how to properly serve Chuseok's turnover table Related article: The types and stories of Korean traditional rice cakes we're forgetting
7. frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q. will I have a beautiful daughter if I make a beautiful songpyeon? A. This is a pleasant myth to encourage people to wish for a beautiful daughter and to prepare food with care. there is no scientific basis for this, but it is a beautiful story that adds to the joy of preparing for the holidays.
Q. how should I store leftovers to keep them delicious? A. It's best to let the steamed truffles cool completely, then freeze them in small, single-serving portions in an airtight container so they don't stick together. when ready to eat, re-steam them in a steamer or grill them in a pan with a little oil to bring out their chewy flavor.
Q. how many calories are in a serving of matsutake? A. The calorie count of a single croquette varies depending on the type and size of the cow, but it's usually around 40 to 50 kcal for a croquette with sesame seeds and sugar. eating just five or six of them is about the same amount of calories as a serving of rice, so it's best to be careful not to eat too many just because they're delicious.
conclusion
a single grain of songpyeon tells the story of our history, from the aspirations of the Three Kingdoms to the agricultural revolution of the 1970s to the global economy of today. this Chuseok, why not share a songpyeon with your family and reflect on its deep meaning?
what are you making this Chuseok, and if you have a special favorite from your neighborhood, share it in the comments!