Although
sericulture in Korea dates back 4,000 years, consumption of silkworm pupae—a byproduct of extracting the raw silk fiber from the cocoon—had been an endemic practice in silk farming areas. Widespread consumption in South Korea began after the
Korean War, during a period of economic reconstruction when the government heavily promoted raw silk production as an export industry with low technological or capital barriers to entry. By the 1970s, the overflow of the byproduct provided a cheap source of
protein before economic growth allowed broader access to meat supply. Through the end of the 20th century, beondegi was frequently available from street food vendors, and especially near schools, which made it a popular snack children and students could afford. The relative ubiquity of beondegi stalls in daily Korean life ended by the early 2000s due to several economic factors: street stalls faced crackdowns as part of governmental regulation efforts against the
informal economy, and economic development in South Korea meant more snack options were available for children. Despite the decline, demand holds steady as canned beondegi made home consumption possible and is widely available in stores. == Gallery ==