Honey Rice Cake Cereal: The New Korean Food Combo Going Viral on the Internet

A creative recipe featuring the Korean delicacy 'Honey Rice Cake' is gaining significant attention overseas. The dish, known as 'Honey Rice Cake Cereal,' involves pouring milk over honey rice cakes and has gone viral on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Interestingly, this unique combination, inspired by the way cereal is traditionally paired with milk, first gained popularity on international social media rather than domestically, sparking curiosity and excitement.

If you search for "ggultteok cereal" on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube, you’ll find numerous short-form videos created by users from various cultural backgrounds. These videos often showcase the process of cutting honey rice cakes, pouring milk over them, and tasting the dish.

Foreign influencers have praised the combination, highlighting how the chewy texture of the honey rice cake pairs well with milk, adding a creamy flavor. Reactions include comments like, "Honey rice cakes become soft and enjoyable with milk," and "It's chewier and tastier than regular cereal."

The growing interest in honey rice cake cereal within Korea is attributed to the influence of K-content. With global attention on Korean food through mediums like dramas and films, more foreigners are proactively exploring "Korean cuisine." According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs on December 2, exports of rice-based processed foods reached $250 million from January to October this year, a more than 40% increase compared to the previous year. This highlights the growing global popularity of Korean food.

The popularity of honey rice cake cereal, which first gained traction overseas, is now experiencing a "reverse import" phenomenon on Korean social media. According to Naver Data Lab, searches for honey rice cake cereal surged after related content appeared on international platforms. The search index, which was non-existent until last month, started at 0 and climbed to 4 on the 6th of this month, reaching 74 on the 21st and peaking at 100 on the 22nd. This index measures relative search trends, with 100 representing the day with the highest search volume.

Korean YouTubers and social media users have expressed amazement at the combination, noting that the sesame garnish from the honey rice cake mixes with the milk to create a sweet flavor. Comments include, "The sesame garnish blends with the milk for a delightful sweetness," "This combination is genius—why didn’t we think of it first?" and "It seems like foreigners understand honey rice cakes better than we do!"

Professor Lee Eun-hee of Inha University’s Consumer Studies Department described this trend as a "modisumer" phenomenon (a combination of "modify" and "consumer"). She explained, "Koreans, being familiar with honey rice cakes, tend to stick to traditional ways of eating them. However, foreigners encountering honey rice cakes for the first time view the ingredient from a fresh perspective and experiment with unexpected combinations. This reflects the experimental interest in K-food among international audiences."

With the popularity of honey rice cake cereal originating abroad now becoming a major trend in Korea, this unique recipe combination is expected to continue garnering attention.