[1] With tteok (rice cakes), hangwa forms the sweet food category in Korean cuisine.

Concerns regarding the increasingly excessive consumption of confections that have large amounts of oil, grain, and honey have consequently lead to several regulations throughout the course of its history.

[12] Today hangwa can be purchased online, in markets, coffee shops or at tea houses.

With the rising demand for hangwa, this market has seen increased support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery.

As society has sought healthier alternatives in consumable goods, efforts to produce confections to stimulate wellness began.