Korean Culture Explained: Life, History, Music & Language | NowHitz · 4

The product

Gateau Chocolat is the second flavor in the Nama Choco Pie line, which arrived in Korea last year. Seven-Eleven Korea began the seasonal release on October 1 with 600,000 units prepared.

The retail price is ₩4,000. The product weight could not be confirmed from public material.

Taste and texture

Seven-Eleven describes a moist cake layer filled with rich chocolate fresh cream and finished with a thin, crisp chocolate coating. Where the first release emphasized soft, abundant cream, the follow-up leans into stronger chocolate flavor.

Checking stock

Seven-Eleven Korea’s official profile links a stock finder for Nama Choco Pie Gateau Chocolat. Store-level quantities change frequently.

Worth a look?

For fans of dense chocolate desserts, or anyone curious about a more chocolate-forward follow-up to the first Nama Choco Pie, the product is worth seeking out. Given the ₩4,000 price and limited run, checking local stock first is advisable.

No end date for sales has been announced.

The two candidates

Nongshim says Edward Lee and its researchers developed Shin Ramyun Cheese & Doenjang and Shin Ramyun Seafood & Fish Cake. Online voting runs October 6–18 on Nongshim’s website and official Instagram account.

Tasting vote and launch

A tasting vote at the Shin Ramyun Bunsik pop-up in Seongsu is open to applicants. A separate outside consumer evaluation will also factor into the final choice.

Nongshim plans to launch the selected recipe in late November for limited sale through the first quarter of 2027. Neither candidate is on sale yet.

What’s in it

Nongshim says it used its fresh-noodle technology to recreate the springy texture of tteokbokki. The sauce combines a fish-cake-broth tteokbokki base with creamy Shin Ramyun Toomba sauce, finished with cheddar and parmesan powder.

Launch and availability

The product was announced on September 21, with sequential sales planned from September 28. Nongshim’s official online shop listed a 252 g single pack on October 7.

The online listing does not reflect stock at convenience stores or supermarkets nationwide.

Tteok pilgrimages

A tteok pilgrimage means visiting shops in search of particular Korean rice cakes. Pizza seolgi tops a familiar steamed-rice base with savory toppings.

The previously featured Youngmill product and Kane TV’s September 26 video are examples of the interest.

Kurly sales figures

Kurly said on September 10 that its June–August rice-cake and hangwa transaction value was about double a year earlier. Pizza seolgi reached its top sales ranks within two weeks of its August listing.

The figures are one retailer’s, not a growth rate for Korea’s overall rice-cake market.

Jamsil pop-up and Pizza Hut

According to Lotte’s announcement reported by Seoul Shinmun, National Tteok Pilgrimage 2 runs October 9–15 on the B1 floor of the Jamsil store with eight regional brands. Yeongdo Dari Tteokbang’s pizza seolgi is listed at KRW 3,300 each. Items may sell out.

Pizza Hut launched a separate KRW 3,900 version on October 8, topping milk rice cake with tomato sauce, cheese and pepperoni. Branch stock and delivery charges are shown when ordering.

Contest winner: Monster Crunch Cookie

The brand describes Monster Crunch Cookie as cookie ice cream with caramel almonds, graham cookies and brownie balls. It is based on the winning entry in the company’s 2026 Graymat customer recipe contest.

Matcha & Banana and availability

The second flavor combines matcha, banana and graham cookies. The company says both flavors are sold in stores, while delivery orders for Matcha & Banana are available only through Baemin.

Stock at individual stores and current prices were not confirmed. The official campaign video is embedded.

Made by GS25 with ROROMALLO, Hanjeongseon (한정선) Pistachio Chapssaltteok follows September’s yogurt version as the second product in the series. The frozen dessert fills chapssaltteok, a chewy glutinous rice cake, with cream containing ground roasted pistachios. The announced price is KRW 3,900.

In the supplied photograph, the green package is the new pistachio product. The pale package beside it is the earlier yogurt version.

According to GS Retail, 20,000 units were offered for reservation through the Our Neighborhood GS app from October 7 to 10. Reserved orders can be collected from October 14, and regular store sales begin October 15.

Remaining reservation quantities and store-by-store stock have not been confirmed. The October 8 preview pop-up has ended.

The Anyangcheon autumn event rewards customers who show a record of that day’s run. According to the brand, a verified 3 km run earns 15% off the whole menu, and 5 km earns 20%.

A 10 km record earns the same 20% discount plus a free coffee or pear smoothie. Of the three tiers, only 10 km includes a drink. The record should be shown before ordering.

Cyclists get 10% off the menu if they verify their ride with a photo of the bicycle, the bicycle itself or cycling clothing. The announcement does not say whether running and cycling discounts can be combined.

The event runs from 10:30 to 19:30 and the store is closed Sundays. The offer is valid only at the Anyang direct-operated branch through October 31; other Fruta locations set their own promotions.

October’s Kim Hye-ja lunchbox

According to GS Retail, its lunchbox line with actor Kim Hye-ja began in 2010, and the partnership resumed in February 2023. This October edition was released ahead of the opening of the film 여전히 찬란하게.

Contents and availability

The dishes include meat, fried items, egg and tofu. GS25 said it plans to donate part of the sales proceeds to World Vision.

The lunchbox is sold through the end of October. Prices and store-by-store stock were not announced; ingredient, allergen, storage and heating information is printed on the package.

Digging and weighing

The organizer lists digging potatoes with a hand hoe, filling a basket to a target weight and stacking potatoes according to a dice roll.

The activities take place in a staged area inside the mall, not on a working farm.

The snack market

According to the Starfield operator, the “saecham market” food area sells potato bread, sweet-corn bread, Songhwa Chips’ handmade chips made with Korean potatoes, and drinks.

The same ingredient appears as bread and as chips. Ingredient details and that day’s prices are posted on site.

Chuncheon travel and a drawing wall

The event also includes a corner with Chuncheon travel routes and festival information, a large landscape illustration where visitors can draw in a potato, and a stamp tour.

The brand’s event photograph shows potato characters, play areas and visitors.

Visitor information

The event runs October 2–18, 2026, at Starfield Suwon, 175 Suseong-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon.

Hours, entry conditions and charges for individual activities are listed in the event notice and may differ from the mall’s opening hours.

Two layers

The brand describes a two-layer construction, with acorn jelly or cheongpomuk below and flavored pudding above.

The layers are visible through the side of the cup and can be eaten together in one spoonful.

Three acorn pairings, two cheongpomuk pairings

The brand’s September 23 announcement lists banana, matcha and chocolate puddings over acorn jelly, and black sesame and carrot over cheongpomuk, a mung-bean jelly. The base changes along with the topping.

The supplied photograph shows five differently colored cups next to a handled gift bag.

Same-day sales, no delivery

Mrs. Muk says it sells each day’s batch on the day it is made and does not ship parcels. It recommends eating the product within 48 hours of purchase and provides ice packs and insulated packaging.

Travelers buying it as a gift will need to keep it cold in transit. Storage and use-by details are given at purchase.

Location

The shop is at Gate 11 of Dongmun Market; the gate sign appears beside its display case in the supplied photograph.

Muk pudding is not new: the brand was already describing it in November 2025. Current hours, prices and flavors are posted in the shop’s listing.

Fried soboro

Sungsimdang describes fried soboro as three familiar breads in one: a sweet red-bean filling, a soboro crumb topping and doughnut-style frying. The official timeline dates its creation to May 1980.

It is the natural first purchase. Cut open, it shows how the crumb topping meets the bean filling.

Other breads

Pantalong chive bread, listed in the brand’s timeline as a 1986 creation, is another signature item. Bomunsan Meari is a rolled pastry, and the myeongnan baguette is filled with pollock roe.

Separating what to eat now from what to share later keeps bags manageable on a day trip.

1956 founding, today’s main store

Sungsimdang began as a steamed-bun shop in front of Daejeon Station in October 1956. Its main store today is at 15 Daejong-ro 480beon-gil in Eunhaeng-dong, a different location from where it started.

This route centers on the Eunhaeng-dong main store and links bread, dessert and the brand’s story within one neighborhood.

Main store → Cake Boutique → Cultural Center

The suggested route runs from the main store to Cake Boutique at 480 Daejong-ro, then to Sungsimdang Cultural Center at 11 Junggyo-ro 73beon-gil. Cake Boutique is a separate cake shop; the Cultural Center houses Meari Shop, Meari Lounge and Gallery La Rue.

Check separate notices for specific exhibitions or activities. Cake buyers may want to stop there last, given storage requirements and the trip home.

Save these details before you go

Main store: 15 Daejong-ro 480beon-gil, Jung-gu, Daejeon; daily 08:00–22:00. Cake Boutique: 480 Daejong-ro, Jung-gu; Monday–Thursday and Sunday 08:00–21:30, Friday–Saturday 08:00–22:00. Cultural Center: 11 Junggyo-ro 73beon-gil, Jung-gu; weekdays 08:30–21:00, weekends 08:00–21:00.

All three are officially open year-round; contact 1588-8069. Check official notices for temporary changes. Opening hours do not guarantee stock or waiting times.

Leave a buffer before your train, follow each product’s storage instructions, and check prices at the shop.