Gal Gol Hangwa Village Master's House

Gal Gol Hangwa Village Master's House is a food cultural heritage of Gangneung with a history of over 150 years. Although Master Choi Bong-seok began making hangwa in earnest in the early 1960s, the family's tradition started with his great-grandfather, making it the fifth generation. Master Choi Bong-seok has continued the family business for over 60 years, maintaining the consistent taste of hangwa. The transmission history of Gal Gol Gwajul is said to have originated from the family's emphasis on etiquette and filial piety, which led to an unusually high number of ceremonial events such as ancestral rites. Gal Gol Gwajul is also described as '30 days of waiting' because the first step—fermenting glutinous rice—takes a full 20 days. It is made by selecting good rice, adding no additives, and allowing natural fermentation through healthy airborne fermentation bacteria.