Korea's Glutinous Rice Cake, Japan's KitKat... College Entrance Good Luck Foods [Delicious Stories]

With the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) approaching on November 13, more customers are seeking yeot (Korean taffy) and glutinous rice cakes. These sticky and chewy treats have long been considered foods that wish for success in exams. Other Asian countries with strong educational fervor also have their own foods believed to bring good luck before college entrance exams.

Glutinous rice cake. Photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. Instagram

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Good luck foods for exams, such as CSAT yeot and glutinous rice cake, are believed to have been made and eaten since at least the Joseon Dynasty. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty from the reign of King Yeongjo (1724-1776) record that many vendors sold sliced yeot sticks at the civil service exam sites. Just as yeot and glutinous rice cakes stick firmly in the mouth, they symbolize the wish for students to "stick" to their exams and pass successfully.

Today, CSAT yeot and glutinous rice cakes have become much more elaborate desserts than in the past. Some yeot are filled with unique ingredients such as nuts, and glutinous rice cakes now come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate and fresh cream, going beyond the traditional red bean filling.

Traditional Chinese rice dumplings Zongzi (left) and KitKat. Photo captured from Baidu

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The tradition of sharing good luck foods for exams is not unique to Korea. Other Asian countries with a strong emphasis on education have their own distinctive "good luck foods" that are shared during exam periods.

In China, where the Gaokao (college entrance exam) is held every June, students eat zongzi before the test. Zongzi is a glutinous rice dumpling stuffed with fillings such as meat or peanuts and wrapped in bamboo or lotus leaves before being steamed.

Originally, zongzi was made for the Dragon Boat Festival, one of China's four major holidays, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. However, examinees also eat it to wish for success in their exams. This is because the word "zong" in zongzi sounds similar to the Chinese character for "middle" (中), symbolizing hitting the bullseye-just as an arrow strikes the center of a target, students are encouraged to answer questions correctly and pass their exams.

Japanese students eat glutinous rice cakes or tonkatsu. The Japanese-style glutinous rice cake, mochi, has long been considered a symbol of good luck, while tonkatsu is eaten because the Japanese word "katsu" (to win) sounds similar to the dish's name. The British snack KitKat is also commonly given as a good luck gift for college entrance exams in Japan. In Japanese, KitKat is pronounced "Kitto Katsu," which sounds like the phrase "surely win" (きっと勝つ, kitto katsu).

Tropical fruit Ggeok (left) and glutinous rice soaked with Ggeok juice. YouTube

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Vietnam, where educational fervor is just as strong as in Korea or China, also has good luck foods for exams. In Vietnam, the "high school graduation exam" is held between late June and July each year. Since the results of this exam, combined with high school grades, determine university admission, the attention of all students and parents is focused on this test.

On the day of the high school graduation exam, Vietnamese students eat glutinous rice cooked with the juice of a fruit called "Ggeok" (g?c). Ggeok is a fruit that grows in tropical climates like Vietnam; it is bright red in color but has little flavor. Since red is considered a lucky color in Vietnam, families eat Ggeok glutinous rice to support their children's exams and wish them good fortune.

There are also foods that must be avoided on exam day in Vietnam, namely peanuts and eggs. The Vietnamese word for peanut, "lac," sounds similar to the word for "derail" (l?c đ?), and is therefore considered a bad omen. Eggs are avoided because their shape resembles a zero, symbolizing a failing grade.

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