설날 떡국
The Seollal bowl — why tteokguk means a year
Rice-cake soup at Lunar New Year: white broth, sliced garaetteok, and the joke that you age when you finish.
White, sliced, shared
On 설날, many tables start with tteokguk — thin oval rice cakes in clear beef (or mushroom) broth, egg garnish, crumbled gim. The cakes look like coin shapes in older tellings; the modern joke is that finishing the bowl ages you one year. Technique: how to make tteokguk.
What sits beside the bowl
Jeon, mandu, and fruit often share the table — see mandu and how to make mandu. Rainy-day pajeon is a different holiday mood; Seollal wants clean broth more than oil. Paths: banchan first if you are building sides around the soup.
FAQ
Do I have to eat tteokguk only on Seollal?
No — it is year-round comfort. The New Year association is cultural, not a rule.
Vegetarian Seollal?
Kelp-shiitake stock, no beef garnish, same rice cakes and egg or tofu.
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Updated 2026-09-07