The empirical research was conducted to investigate women's consumption pattern of Korean rice cakes and to analyze the preference of them by their demographic backgrounds. The results of this study provide useful informations for a systematic development of Korean rice cake. A self-completed questionnaire survey of 281 women in Seoul was undertaken and detailed information was collected from each. A questionnaire consisted of three parts including demographic backgrounds, consumption pattern and preference of Korean rice cakes, and the need assessment. Demographic variables of respondents included age, marital status, education, family style, monthly income etc. Most of them(82.6%) were married with the average age of 36.3±8.4 year old. The results of eating frequency rate showed that about half of women(49.1%) had Korean rice cake once or twice a month followed by once a week(23.1%), once per two months(13.9%), once per six months(8.2%), and once per three months(3.9%). Average preference score of 14 Korean rice cakes was 3.08±1.49 out of 5, indicating 'so-and-so'. Ingeolmi received the highest score of 4.02, whereas Duteopteok had the lowest score of 0.18. The preference score of Korean rice cake and the respondents' knowledge of them showed significantly strong positive correlation. The need-assessment score for improving the quality of Korean rice cake was 3.72±1.35 out of 5, showing moderate willingness for improvement of Korean rice cake.

• 이진실 | Lee, Jin-Sil