Stamps of K-Street food to be issued on Sept. 21

South Korea's state-run postal service agency Korea Post announced on Wednesday that it will issue 1.28 million commemorative stamps featuring two of South Korea's representative street foods, tteokbokki (a spicy stir-fried dish whose main ingredient is cylinder-shaped rice cakes) and sundae (a type of blood sausage), which have gained attention as K-food overseas, in conjunction with the spread of Korean dramas.

These stamps, scheduled to be released on the 21st, can be purchased by visiting a post office or accessing the online postal service (www.epost.go.kr) for 430 won (or 32 US cents) per stamp.

"These stamps are being produced to commemorate the 2023 Korea Stamp Exhibition held from Sept. 21 to 28," a Korea Post official said. "Stamps featuring tteokbokki and sundae will also be exhibited in the K-culture corner of the Sejong Cultural Center, where the exhibition is taking place."

Tteokbokki's recipe can be traced back to the late Joseon Dynasty and is mentioned in the cookbook "Siuijeonseo." It was recorded as being stir-fried with sesame oil, soy sauce and other ingredients instead of the red chili paste used today. Red chili paste-based tteokbokki is said to have originated in 1953 in Sindang-dong, Seoul, shortly after the Korean War.

Sundae, on the other hand, became a popular working-class food in snack shops and street stalls in the 1970s.

Write to Seung-Woo Lee at leeswoo@hankyung.com