VOL.84/2025.07

Koreans’ Soul Food: Tteokbokki

2025.06.02

Tteokbokki, which received a whopping 86% of the vote in the “What is the signature dish of K-Bunsik?” survey, is an iconic Korean bunsik (a generic term used to refer to inexpensive Korean dishes sold at small restaurants by the streetside) that blends tradition and modernity. The chewy rice cake with a spicy, sweet gochujang (red pepper paste) sauce is beloved by Koreans of all ages, and has permeated Korean life in many forms, from street stalls to franchised restaurants. Any K-drama fan will have seen it at least once. It may seem like a simple snack, but tteokbokki has evolved with the times. Since the first gochujang tteokbokki appeared in the 1950s, a wide variety of flavors have been developed to appeal to younger generations, including jajang (black bean paste) tteokbokki, cheese tteokbokki, rosé tteokbokki, and cream tteokbokki. The combination with fries, sundae (a type of blood sausage), fish cakes, and more, is what makes K-bunsik so unique.
For Koreans, tteokbokki is more than just food – it’s their soul food. Ask any Korean on the street, and they will have their own favorite tteokbokki place! Plus, they will tell you all about the fond memories that come with it. From the spicy taste of the first tteokbokki they ate at the market while holding their mom’s hand, to the after-school memories of eating it while chatting with friends, to the warmth of the stalls on a rainy day - tteokbokki is a cultural symbol that stirs the emotions of Koreans and has become a natural part of their daily lives and sentiments. As a result, there are many books about tteokbokki. From I Want to Die but I Also Want to Eat Tteokppokki (HEUN), which has been translated into many languages, to From Your Tteokbokki (Suo Books), a collection of short stories about tteokbokki, and various picture books and fairy tales, the book we want to introduce today is Anyways, Tteokbokki (Wego), a collection of short prose stories related to tteokbokki.

Written by musician YOZOH, who is also a writer, owner of the Musa Books bookstore, and podcast host, Anyways, Tteokbokki is more than just an essay on food; it is a heartwarming look into her life through the lens of tteokbokki. The author, who says that tteokbokki is the food she ate the most after the food made by her mom and herself, uses tteokbokki to tell personal and universal stories of childhood memories, friendships, and everyday solace. Without trying to teach any big lessons or tell any dramatic stories, Anyways, Tteokbokki is a book that reminds us how important the little daily moments are. The moments that we have probably all experienced at one time or another, combined with the author’s delightful and compassionate language, give us a sense of comfort that says, “I’m not the only one who has felt this way.” It’s amazing how the way we take care of ourselves and console the world through tteokbokki can be so reassuring.
This is a book for not only those who love tteokbokki, but also for anyone who needs a little comfort. After reading it, you will be reminded of a plate of tteokbokki, and life will feel a little warmer. Tteokbokki has become popular around the world thanks to the K-food craze, and we don’t think it’s just because it tastes good – it’s also because it embodies Korean emotions, culture, and memories! Tteokbokki is a language that represents Korea, a living food culture that is constantly changing and expanding. We hope that someday, at some point in your life, you, too, will find your “tteokbokki of life.”