Leesungdang
{{Short description|Oldest bakery in South Korea}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox restaurant|mapframe=yes|name=Leesungdang|coordinates={{Coord|35.9871|126.7112|display=inline,title}}|image=Isungdang.jpg|image_caption=Inside the main location in Gunsan (2018)|established={{Start date|1945}}|mapframe-zoom=13|food-type=Bakery|website={{URL|https://leesungdang1945.com/}}}}
Leesungdang ({{Korean|hangul=이성당|hanja=李盛堂}}) is a historic bakery in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is the oldest active bakery in South Korea, having been founded in 1945, just after the liberation of Korea.{{Cite web |last=최 |first=수학 |date=2022-01-20 |title=군산의 유명 빵집 '이성당' 1억원 기부 |url=https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/A2022012016020005329 |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Hankook Ilbo |language=ko}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-11 |title=Bread tourism boosts South Korean local economies |url=https://www.chosun.com/english/travel-food-en/2024/05/16/KIYM6O5W7NFYHI2FUN4IX7LNDQ/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=The Chosun Daily |language=en}} It has remained a family business since then, and by 2019 was operated by the daughter-in-law of the founder.{{Cite web |last=박 |first=미향 |date=2013-11-27 |title=응답하라 추억의 단팥빵…이성당에서 ‘서울연인’까지 맛집 탐구 |url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/specialsection/esc_section/613028.html |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=The Hankyoreh |language=ko}}
{{As of|2024}}, the bakery operates several branch locations, including four in Seoul (one under the name Haetssalmaru), one in Yongin, and one in Hwaseong.{{Cite web |last= |title=소개 |url=https://leesungdang1945.com/_wg/import/sub/about.html |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Leesungdang |language=ko}}
The bakery is reportedly known for its anpan ({{Korean|hangul=단팥빵|rr=danpatppang}}) and vegetable bread.{{Cite web |last=김 |first=경애 |last2=박 |first2=임근 |date=2022-01-20 |title=가장 오래된 빵집 ‘이성당’ 코로나19 소외계층에 1억 기부 |url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/ngo/1028221.html |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=The Hankyoreh |language=ko}}{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Su-hyun |date=2018-01-12 |title=[Weekender] Walking down bread’s memory lane |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180112000590 |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en}}
History
A Japanese predecessor to the bakery first opened in the 1920s, during the colonial period. After Korea's liberation in 1945, the bakery's Korean employees took over the restaurant and renamed it Leesungdang. The business experienced a rough period in the 1990s, when traffic in the area decreased. The chain eventually managed to expand by the 2010s, after it achieved popularity through word of mouth.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-16 |title='빵지순례' 명소된 군산 이성당…"75년 ‘축적의 시간’이 비결" |url=https://biz.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/09/11/2020091102745.html |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=ChosunBiz |language=ko}} The restaurant also operates a branch store in Seoul under a different name: Haetssalmaru ({{Korean|hangul=햇쌀마루|labels=no}}). This branch is operated by the family's third generation. In April 2020, it opened a branch in the Lotte Department Store, Gimpo Airport branch.
See also
- Taegeukdang – oldest bakery in Seoul
- Sungsimdang – historic bakery in Daegu
- List of oldest restaurants in South Korea
References
External links
- [https://leesungdang1945.com/ Homepage (in Korean)]
{{Historic restaurants in South Korea}}