The purpose of this study was to investigate the understanding, the perception, and the preference of Korean traditional food in 487 middle school boys and girls living in urban and rural areas. The students got 6.66/10 points in the knowledge about Korean traditional food. The girl and the student from nuclear families got significantly higher scores than the boy and the student from extended families respectively. Most of the students(95%) responded that Korean traditional food must be in succession and be developed because it suits Korean tradition of our own and our tastes. However, Korean traditional food must be improved in cooking process to more convenient way and in tastes. Especially students in urban area emphasized cooking process, and students in rural area emphasized tastes. Many students(80%) answered that the households may play the most important role in succeeding and developing Korean traditional food. Most of students(82.5%) thought that the Korean traditional food needs to be made fast food because they need to take it more easily. However, hygiene, taste and nutrition have to be considered. Pulgogi, Mandoo, Rice, Ddeokgook, Chabchae are highly preferred foods while Torantang, Mookuen-Namool, Jutgal, Jeonyoouh are poorly preferred. Some students had never tasted Shinseonro, Goocheolpan, Torantang, Chokpyun and Pyunyook.