What shape are Korean songpyeon traditionally molded into for Chuseok?

Korean songpyeon are traditionally molded into a half-moon shape for Chuseok.

These rice cakes are made from rice flour dough, filled, folded, and sealed into curved forms before being steamed. Their crescent-like appearance is one of the most recognizable visual features of Chuseok food.

Songpyeon are prepared in many colors and with varied fillings. Ingredients can include sesame seeds, beans, chestnuts, and other sweet or savory mixtures. Families often make them together, making preparation part of the holiday’s communal character.

The half-moon design is sometimes contrasted with the full moon celebrated elsewhere in East Asian harvest festivals. Korean tradition commonly associates the half-moon with growth and the hope that things will continue to become fuller. Although recipes and colors differ across regions, the folded half-moon form remains the canonical shape of songpyeon.