National Museum of Korean Contemporary History Publishes "Confectionery and Baking in Korea" Tracing the History of Korean Confectionery and Baking

Tracing the Formation and Evolution of Confectionery and Baking

The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History announced on January 22 that it has published a research report titled "Confectionery and Baking in Korea," which sheds light on the formation and evolution of Korean confectionery and baking amid the recent nationwide "bread pilgrimage" trend.

Research Report 'Confectionery and Baking in Korea'. Provided by the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

This book presents comprehensive research on how bread and confectionery were introduced and established in modern and contemporary Korean society, as well as the meanings they have formed within dietary habits, industry, and spatial culture. It provides a historical overview of the development of confectionery and baking, from the emergence of Japanese-style bakeries during the Japanese colonial period, to the flour-based food promotion policies after liberation, the growth of large-scale baking companies, and the coexistence of local bakeries and franchises.

The report covers a wide range of topics, including a historical overview, the distribution and evolution of bakeries nationwide, the ecosystem of the confectionery and baking industry, the structure and significance of bakery spaces, wedding favors and "bread meals" in the military, bread festivals and the "bread pilgrimage" phenomenon, and cases of overseas expansion. Notably, it features oral histories from veteran confectioners and bakers, as well as findings from surveys of shops, tools, and architecture, combining industrial and everyday history.

The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History has made documenting the daily life history of modern and contemporary Korea-now at risk of disappearing-a major research priority, and this report was also planned with that concern in mind. Director Han Soo stated, "Bread is an everyday food, but behind it lie experiences of colonization and war, as well as changes in industrialization and consumer culture," adding, "We hope it will serve as a foundational resource for exhibition, education, and cultural content development." "Confectionery and Baking in Korea" will be released as a PDF through the museum's website.