Our Story

We create beautiful Han-gwa by inheriting Gangneung’s traditionsAt Sunmi Hangwa, we make traditional Korean sweets the way they were meant to be staying true to time-honored methods and natural ingredients.Our story begins with a simple childhood memory: biting into a piece of yugwa at our grandmother’s home, feeling it melt softly in our mouths with a light crunch and gentle sweetness. We believe that bringing back that authentic taste is more than just making good snacks it’s about keeping our ancestors’ wisdom alive.That’s why we never take shortcuts. Every piece of yugwa is made just like it was generations ago. We start at dawn, steaming glutinous rice in a traditional iron pot. The dough is mixed only with pure soybean extract—no additives, no artificial ingredients. Then, we let it dry carefully for two days so it can puff up just right. Instead of using syrup substitutes, we coat each piece with pure, handmade jocheong (rice syrup) to create a natural, deep sweetness.In a world full of new brands and mass-produced snacks, we take pride in doing things differently. At Sunmi Hangwa, three generations of dedication go into every bite, keeping the rich flavors and traditions of Korean confectionery alive.We make Han-gwa that preserves the dignity of the Korean dessert’s historyIn 1934, a Korean language school for children was built in Nodong-ri, Sacheon-myun, Gangneung. Jin Hoe Kim built this school under the belief that he will preserve the dignity of Korean youth, and his son Jung Ki Kim carried on his legacy by teaching these children with the same belief. Jung Ki’s wife Hyun Chul Choi, coming from the Choi family that was known for their Han-gwa, would make Han-gwa on special occasions and share them with the students and her neighbors while running a mill near the elementary school.Growing up in a such household, Nam Dae Kim developed a sense of pride in preserving Korean traditions and founded Sunmi Hangwa by inheriting his mother’s cra manship and his father’s philosophy. To this day, Nam Dae and his wife Mi Young Jo have made Han-gwa, with dignity and pride. Sunmi Hangwa, still preserving Korean dessert traditions for over 20 years, is now being carried on by Kim and Jo’s children. With them, Sunmi Hangwa is expanding towards a new Korean dessert culture with solid backbones of traditions passed on through generations.