Traditional businesses named: Grandmother Hakhwa Walnut Cake and Dongsoonwon; Traditional masters named: Jeong Mi-sook and Seo Yong-pil

Cheonan City announced on the 13th that it has selected traditional businesses and traditional masters who have preserved tradition through craftsmanship.

On the 12th, the city held the 'Cheonan City Skilled Labor Promotion and Support Committee' for the 2026 selection of traditional businesses and traditional masters, ultimately choosing two traditional businesses and two traditional masters.

‘Grandmother Hakhwa Walnut Cake’ (CEO Cho Gyeong-chan), selected as a traditional business, is an original establishment that has passed down its family business through four generations, starting from founders Cho Gwi-geum and Sim Bok-soon.

Walnut cakes, initially created using walnuts—a specialty product of Gwangdeok-myeon—have established themselves as a representative specialty of Cheonan. Recently, the business has been attempting new transformations by developing new menu items such as stollen, matcha, and butter-chewy walnut cakes, alongside corporate collaborations with Yonsei Dairy and Dunkin'.

‘Dongsoonwon’ (CEO Song Sang-hong), which made the list as a traditional business in the Chinese cuisine sector, is a representative traditional Chinese restaurant in the Seonghwan area. It has been loved across generations for its clear and savory sweet-and-sour pork sauce and deep-flavored Jjamppong. Founder Song Jung-seong, even past the age of 70, still guards the kitchen, upholding taste and principles for decades.

Jeong Mi-sook, selected as a traditional master in the Korean cuisine sector, is a culinary master who operates ‘Yoonshinne Kongbat,’ featuring Cheonggukjang as its signature menu item. She won the Minister of Unification Award at the Jeonju Bibimbap Festival Culinary Contest (2013) and the Gold Prize at a competition hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (2021). Currently, she is building professional knowledge in the Department of Food and Nutrition at the Korea National Open University graduate school, spreading the excellence of traditional fermented foods.

Seo Yong-pil, selected as a traditional master in the confectionery and bakery sector, is a confectioner who has operated ‘Dupang Bakery’ in Cheonan for 29 years. His long-standing technical skills have been recognized through achievements such as receiving the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit in 2024, winning an encouragement prize in the Cheonan City Tourism Souvenir Contest for his representative product 'Mini Walnut' (Kkoma-hodu), and being designated as Cheonan City’s ‘Bbangso’ and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ ‘Centennial Store.’

The city plans to award designation plaques to the selectees at the monthly meeting in November and provide subsidies for facility remodeling and equipment purchases.

A city official stated, "We deeply thank those who have quietly walked a single path for a long time to protect the region's unique tastes and skills," adding, "We will spare no practical support so that the selected traditional businesses and masters can take pride, pass down their skills, and remain a solid foundation for the local economy."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]