Audiovisuals
Explore storytelling contents made with video and photographic materials.
Audiovisuals
A Half-century-long Drama, in which the Main Character is Rice
- From Mixed Rice Consumption to Rice Consumption Encouragement Drive
The Rice Could Not Be Eaten, the Rice Not Eaten Anymore
There used to be a day called “Riceless day”. It was a day without rice or a day when rice was not eaten. This day was also “a day of mixed rice consumption”. From 1969, every restaurant could not sell food made of rice every Wednesday and Saturday, from 11 am to 5 pm. After Tongil rice was distributed from 1972 in rural areas and a self-supply of rice was achieved, Riceless day faded into the mists of history.
Now things have changed a lot. A variety of snacks were developed, such as rice snacks, rice cakes, and rice drinks, but the annual consumption of rice is far below production. Being accustomed to western foods, the average annual consumption of rice per person was 61.8kg in 2017. This is about one and a half bowls of rice per day for each person. The position of rice as a staple food of Korean is in danger. What changes happened in our food culture?
Now things have changed a lot. A variety of snacks were developed, such as rice snacks, rice cakes, and rice drinks, but the annual consumption of rice is far below production. Being accustomed to western foods, the average annual consumption of rice per person was 61.8kg in 2017. This is about one and a half bowls of rice per day for each person. The position of rice as a staple food of Korean is in danger. What changes happened in our food culture?
Female Members Educating Tasks of Dietary Life According to the Encouragement of Mixed Rice
(Saemaul Illustration Books, 1975)
(Saemaul Illustration Books, 1975)
The position of rice as a staple food of Korean is in danger. What changes happened in our food culture?
Rice Consumption Reduction Movement and Mixed Rice Promotion Movement
In the late 1950s, the Republic of Korea suffered from food shortages and had to rely on relief supplies from the international community and flour for aid from America. Under the administrative order of 'Grain Management Act', rice consumption reduction movement paralleled. The implementation of riceless day was in accordance with this regulation. At the restaurant, all food had to contain more than 25% of barley and noodles, and the restaurant in the government offices and state-owned enterprises did not serve food made of rice. The way to eat noodles with gomtang, and seongdong-tang is a food culture that emerged around this time. The syrup ingredients were confined to potatoes, and corn. Grain management law was gradually strengthened, but loosened from 1977 when rice self-sufficiency was accomplished. However, the sowing promotion business was promoted without interruption.
Cooked Rice without Barley is Foul!
For the people who were high school students in the 1970s, the 'lunch box examination' remains an unforgettable memory. The teacher used to admonish the students who had only rice, checking if the rice is mixed with barley at the ratio of 7 to 3. The school held posters, drawing contests and writing contests about mixed rice consumption.
Barley Milk Porridge, a snack made of barley
Meanwhile, food researchers promoted barley with a variety of nutrients and virtuous effects, cooking researchers showed numerous barley-based foods, and organization with female members held food contests or rallies. All of these campaigns were titled 'Improvement of Dietary Life'.
Let’s Eat Rice instead of Ramyun!
In the late 1980s, things had changed drastically. People began worrying about the shrinking consumption of rice. This was because more people enjoyed bread and hamburgers as their tastes changed. Then, a campaign was conducted which claimed that food made of flour is the cause of adult diseases, and the food made of rice is healthy and nutritionally well-balanced. "In the past, when rice was in short supply, the excellence of rice was undervalued in order to increase consumption of flour and grains." This is because the decrease in rice consumption leads to a decrease in production, which leads to a dangerous situation in which food is dependent on imports.
A half-century-long drama, whose main character is rice, ends with a happy ending "then they eat well and live well ever after". Because there was a climax which encouraged less rice movement and mixed rice movement in the farm hardship period, the story shines even more.
