As South Korea prepares for the Seollal holiday, the spotlight is on a rice cake maker in Gyeonggi Province who is dedicated to creating colorful 'rainbow rice cakes'. Lee Je-nam, who has been in the rice cake business since 2007, begins his day at 5 PM and works tirelessly to produce these vibrant delicacies. The process involves intricately mixing natural pigments derived from ingredients such as sweet potatoes, various fruits, and herbal powders, transforming simple rice cakes into a stunning array of colors.

The journey to perfect the rainbow rice cake was not easy for Lee; he spent years traveling around the country to learn different techniques and flavors from various rice cake artisans. It was during his military service that he first envisioned bringing a majestic rainbow cloud to life through food. Having established his own rice cake shop in 2020 with his wife, they experimented with numerous recipes to create a lineup that eventually grew to 31 different shades, each requiring precise adjustments to yield the desired hue and color saturation.

The labor-intensive process of making rainbow rice cakes not only significantly increases product preparation time but also reflects Lee's passion for bringing joy and hope to his customers. Each colorful cake elicits amazement from those who see them, showcasing how traditional food can evolve into a form of artistic expression. This initiative not only celebrates cultural heritage but also adds a modern twist that resonates with the festive spirit of Seollal, ultimately contributing to the happiness of the community during the holiday season.