A festival celebrating tteokbokki, the popular Korean rice cake dish, is set to take place in Sunchang County, Jeollanam-do, a region celebrated for its renowned gochujang, or red chili paste. Attendees at the “Sunchang Tteokbokki Festa 2024″ will have the chance to sample tteokbokki made with sauces crafted by Sunchang’s gochujang artisans.
Sunchang County Office announced on Nov. 14 that the festival will run from Nov. 16 to 17 at the Sunchang Fermentation Theme Park. While the county traditionally hosts its annual “Sunchang Jang Festival” each October to showcase various fermented foods, this event marks its first dedicated solely to tteokbokki.
A Sunchang County official emphasized that tteokbokki, a signature “K-food” dish, relies heavily on gochujang, adding, “This festival seeks to celebrate tteokbokki here in Sunchang, the birthplace of gochujang.”
Meanwhile, Daegu Metropolitan City has held its “Tteokbokki Festival” since 2021, drawing approximately 130,000 visitors this past May.
At the Sunchang event’s opening ceremony on Nov. 16, local gochujang masters will demonstrate the traditional gochujang-making process, which will then be incorporated into various tteokbokki dishes. Visitors can sample these offerings, including creations by Kang Sun-ok, a nationally recognized gochujang master. Other options will feature diverse flavors, such as vegan, curry, and pork bulgogi tteokbokki, catering to a wide range of tastes.
