SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Volunteers tied to the Korean Red Cross held a charity event on Dec. 11 in Daegu, serving 400 servings of patjuk (red bean porridge) to local elderly residents.
The event precedes the traditional Korean observance of Dongji, marking the year's longest night, which falls on Dec. 22 this year. A widespread custom in Korea dictates the consumption of patjuk around this date, rooted in the ancient belief that the red color of the beans effectively wards off evil spirits.
Patjuk is a traditional Korean porridge prepared with rice and incorporates a substantial quantity of boiled and thoroughly mashed red beans. The dish is typically completed with the addition of saealsim, small, round rice cake balls made from glutinous rice flour.
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