Making 'songpyeon': Memories of Chuseok

For many Koreans, Chuseok is one of the most meaningful and fiercely celebrated holiday. Families gather, give thanks to their ancestors and share special foods. Among these foods, “songpyeon,” the half-moon–shaped rice cake, is always found on the table. But it is more than just a sweet treat. Songpyeon carries history, meaning and warm memories.

In the past, life was not easy. Times were hard, and food was often scarce. Yet during Chuseok, families prepared abundant dishes to celebrate the harvest and to honor the ancestors. For children of the baby boomer generation, songpyeon was one of the most exciting and special foods of the holiday. It was a sign of abundance and family unity.

Today, however, many families buy songpyeon from markets or rice cake shops instead of making it at home. Because of this, the tradition of making songpyeon together has become a rare and nostalgic memory.

Recently, the elder members of our apartment community center decided to bring this tradition back. We held a joyful event to make songpyeon together. Both men and women joined, each with a role to play. Members went to the market to buy beans, sesame seeds and chestnuts to prepare the fillings. Rice, the most important ingredient, was provided through a government program. It was sent to a local mill to be ground into fine rice flour.

When everything was ready, we began. First, warm water was slowly mixed into the rice flour to make a soft dough. The men mostly took charge of kneading, since the more you knead, the chewier and tastier the dough becomes. Meanwhile, the women worked on the fillings, steaming and grinding the beans, sesame and chestnuts into smooth mixtures.

Once both parts were ready, everyone gathered to shape the cakes. The dough was cut into small pieces, pressed into round shapes and filled with the prepared mixtures. The shapes were not all perfect, but this added to the fun. Laughter filled the room as each person tried to make their own songpyeon look beautiful. Finally, the cakes were placed in a steamer lined with fresh pine needles. After some time, the entire hall was filled with the fragrant smell of pine and steaming rice cakes.

When the songpyeon was ready, we tasted them together. The flavor was warm and comforting, and it brought back many memories of Chuseok in the past. Members said it had been many years since they last made songpyeon by hand. Everyone agreed that it was a rare but wonderful experience. Some even wrapped a few rice cakes to take home, planning to place them on their family’s holiday table. They said that although the shapes were not perfect, the fact that they were handmade carried great meaning.

It was truly a happy time, filled with laughter, food and old memories. For our generation, making songpyeon again reminded us of younger days and family traditions. Yet we hope this joy will not end with us. It is our sincere wish that younger generations also continue this tradition, making songpyeon not only as food, but as a symbol of family love, cultural memory, and the true spirit of Chuseok.

Sho Chang-young is a retired high school teacher and former principal of Gunsan Girls' High School.