Chuseok (Harvest Festival)

The three-day harvest festival Chuseok is just around the corner.

A scene of women making songpyeon as displayed at the Korean Folk Village

According to Korean Women’s Association (KWA) vice-president Yoon Kum Ju, Chuseok, which is sometimes referred to as the Korean Thanksgiving, is a harvest festival celebrated at the same time as the Mid-Autumn Festival.

As stated on their Facebook page, the Korean Women's Association (KWA) was established in December 2011 as a non-profitable organization with the objectives of promoting cooperation and interaction between association members and enhancing cultural exchange and friendship between the Korean community and other local & international communities in Malaysia.

Songpyeon is a half-moon-shaped festive food traditionally eaten during Chuseok

Songpyeon is a half-moon-shaped festive food traditionally eaten during Chuseok. Yoon said that Koreans believe if you make beautiful songpyeon, you will have a beautiful daughter.

The skin is made from glutinous rice and is naturally-coloured using mugwort for green and omija (Schisandra chinensis) berries for pink colouring.

It has a variety of fillings such as sesame seeds, black beans, mung beans, jujube and chestnut paste.

Songpyeon has a variety of fillings such as sesame seeds, black beans, mung beans, jujube and chestnut paste.