Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| Gyeongju's 10 won bread and its mold / Screenshot from one manufacturer's website |
By Lee Yeon-woo
Makers of Gyeongju's "10-won bread," a popular street food shaped like a Korean 10 won coin, are facing pressure from the Bank of Korea (BOK) to change its design.
According to relevant authorities, Thursday, the BOK requested makers of the treat stop using the coin's design for their bread.
"We are in discussions with the manufacturers of the 10 won bread about making design changes within legal boundaries, in order to ensure the continued operation of their local business," the BOK said in its official statement.
Gyeongju's 10 won bread is a pastry based on the design of Korea's smallest-denomination coin, featuring an image of Dabotap, a stone pagoda from Korea's ancient Silla Kingdom located in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
Since one vendor started producing in it 2019, the bread has become a regional specialty. Currently, it is sold by 17 entities within the region, and its reach has expanded to Seoul via franchising.
Under the current regulations, the BOK permits public use of monetary designs under certain conditions, including nonprofit purposes. However, it does not allow for-profit use, arguing that "imprudent commercialization of monetary design could undermine trust in the monetary system."
The BOK maintains there would be no issue if the manufacturers make clear the bread is distinct from the actual 10 won coin. For instance, they could engrave other symbols such as Cheomseongdae (the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia) or Bulguk Temple instead of Dabotap, while still using the current name.
With the 10 won coin bread under BOK scrutiny, it is likely that other street foods resembling coins could face the same fate. Thanks to the popularity of the 10 won bread, 50 won bread is sold in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, 100 won bread in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, and 500 won bread in southern Seoul's Sinsa-dong.
"The BOK plans to continue providing guidance on coin design usage standards and other necessary matters for companies that violate these standards unintentionally, and will strive to ensure that citizens can use currency designs in a desirable manner," the central bank noted.
