In terms of awareness of Korean traditional food, elementary students are most affected by their parents. The objective of this study was to analyze upper grade elementary students’ parental awareness and preference of Korean traditional foods in the Chungnam Area. In a survey of 126 parents, 58% of subjects were interested in Korean traditional foods, but there was no significant difference according to age. About 87% of parents thought that inheritance of knowledge on Korean traditional foods was needed. The reasons for inheritance of knowledge on Korean traditional foods were ‘To stick to style of Korean traditional foods’ (68.2%), ‘Palatable’ (21.8%), ‘Education for children’ (6.4%), and ‘Beautiful and fine custom’ (3.6%). The awareness point of ‘Korean traditional foods are easy for cooking’ increased with increasing age (p<0.01). In all age groups, subjects highly recognized that Korean traditional foods are good for health. There were significant correlations between overall preferences for Tteok and Hankwa (r=0.351, p=0.001), Hankwa and Korean traditional drink (r=0.374, p=0.001), and Korean traditional drink and Tteok (r=0.406, p=0.001). As a result, preferences for other items also increased when preference for one of the three traditional foods increased. Therefore, education on Korean traditional foods is necessary in order to satisfy parental preferences.

• 지옥화(공주교육대학교 실과교육과) | OkHwa Jhee Corresponding author
• 강민정(연성대학교 식품영양학과) | Min Jeong Kang