Generational Differences in Doenjang Consumption Patterns in Gyeonggi area

경기지역 주부 연령대별 된장 소비패턴

Marketing of traditional doenjang (a kind of fermented soybean product) is now focusing on its health advantages, being proven to have anti-viral, anti-cancer and anti-oxidant effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate the consumption patterns of traditional doenjang in the households managed by different generations of women living in Gyeonggi area. Six hundred housewives answered the questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed on 590 subjects using SAS (ver 8.1). Chi-square tests and General Linear Models were used. The age distribution of housewives was as follows: 42.9% were in their 30s; 40.9% were in their 40s; and 16.2% were in their 50s. 57.5% of subjects graduated with high school education while 72.8% of subjects did housework only. Overall, 47.2%, prepared their doenjang themselves, while the remainder purchased it or received it from relatives. This percentage differed however according to age group, as self-preparation of doenjang was found in only 22% of housewives in their 30s, but increased to 83% of subjects in their 50s. 53.4% of subjects had their doenjang donated to them by relatives, compared with only 3.1 % of subjects in their 50s. Most of dishes using doenjang were soups and stews. Those housewives in their 50s made significantly higher use of doenjang in soup, wrapping vegetables (ssamjang), seasoning, and flat cake (jangttok). Doenjang dishes were prepared for the husband in the family 59.2% of the time, followed by housewives 15.4% of the time. Annual consumption of doenjang was 5.1kg. and Kanjang was 4.4L per household; there was no significant difference between the age groups respecting annual consumption. From such results, we may assume a decrease in home-made doenjang among younger generations and an increase in the amount of purchased doenjang. We can predict an increased need for doenjang of better quality. Also the development of new products such as ready-to-eat or fast food variants would better serve the trend towards convenience.