2020 Jeonbuk LIFE Magazine 3rd Issue

“It is a sign of goodwill
and the hope that
you will do well
in the future.”
THE HISTORY OF YEOT
In ancient Korea, it was a custom during the Joseon
Dynasty to send yeot to children or husbands who
studied to become scholars, as it was believed the
stickiness of the taffy symbolized that the lessons will
“stick to their memory.” Nowadays, some people still
believe that if you eat yeot, you will do well in an exam.
It was also an important ritual food, such as in
a wedding ceremony, a wedding banquet, or a
banquet in the royal court. It is a sign of goodwill
and the hope that you will do well in the future.
THE ART OF MAKING YEOT
In modern times, yeot has
become associated with
the Korean curse "eat yeot,"
which is an inappropriate
expression and has a vulgar
meaning in English. But
despite the wrong evolution
of the term, it cannot be
denied that yeot is a treasure
of Korea, a product of
generations of craftsmanship
and tradition.
Jeontong's website: https://front.
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It is made by pulling the batter concoction from
each end, a process that takes long hours and
dedication. This is because the pulling creates
texture and taste of the candy, while the “air holes”
determine the crunchy texture.
Osu, a small town in Imsil, specializes in
manufacturing of yeot, with senior citizens hand
making these snacks for generations. They make
yeot using domestically produced Imsil rice and
cultivated malt. Jeontong (전통), a brand from Osu
meaning "old-fashioned" or "traditional", is a wellestablished
yeot maker with years of experience.
The old couple that runs it still takes part in the
creation process. They make yeot in different
flavors: ginger, rice, mugwort, and honey.
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