The purpose of this study was to identify the determinants of traditional food perception, by taking the generation effect into account. This study also analyzed the preference patterns of traditional snacks and the strength as well as direction of improvement for traditional foods. Data were collected from 304 housewives living in the Baeong-Nyeong-Do island. Regression analysis showed that the determinants of traditional food perception varied depending on the generation of housewives. In the 30s age subgroup, income and family type were significantly related with the degree of traditional food perception. In the 40s age subgroup, household income, education, and hometown location were significant, whereas household income, family type, number of years of life spent in the Baeong-Nyeong-Do island, hometown location were the significant factors in the 50s and 60s age subgroup. The results of factor analysis showed that there were three preference patterns of traditional snacks. The results of chi-square analysis proved that foods for strength, and direction of improvement for traditional foods were different among the generation groups. In this article, similarities and differences between determinants of traditional foods, the strength and direction of improvement for traditional foods are discussed, and their implications for nutritionists as well as food marketers are provided.