Gonggal Ppang (Hollow Sesame Bun)

Gonggal ppang (공갈빵) is a traditional fried pastry from Gyeongju, the ancient capital city of the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE–935 CE) in North Gyeongsang Province. The name means 'bluffing bread' or 'hollow bun' — a reference to the fact that despite its impressive size and satisfying crunch, the inside is completely empty (공갈 means 'bluffing' or 'hollowing' in Korean colloquial speech). The pastry is made from a simple dough of wheat flour, sesame seeds, and minimal sugar, then deep-fried until it puffs into a round, golden orb. The frying process causes the dough to expand dramatically, creating a large, crispy, slightly sesame-scented shell with hollow air inside. The texture is extraordinarily light and crispy — more like a puffed pastry than a bread — and the sesame seeds add a pleasant nutty fragrance. Gonggal ppang is one of Gyeongju's signature local foods, sold in traditional markets and street stalls throughout the city alongside Gyeongju bread (경주빵, the red bean stuffed pastry). Many vendors sell both in the same stall, creating a Gyeongju local snack experience.