Across Asia: South Korea

Spread love with rice

South Korea's farm ministry is trying to muscle into a popular local tradition where young people show their affection by exchanging chocolate stick candy on Nov 11. The government thinks candy may be nice, but the day is better celebrated with rice - or the traditional rice cake stick called "garaetteok".

"This will promote the consumption of rice cakes made with our own rice," said ministry official Lee Joo-young.