Find the most popular and healthy Korean soup recipes here. Korean soups are nourishing and comforting, and they are an essential part of Korean meals. Whether it is a light soup to accompany a main dish or as a main dish itself, you will discover many soup varieties that will soothe your soul.
It is common practice in Korean households to include a steaming hot bowl of soup as part of their daily meals. Korean soup is a hallmark of a Korean home cooked meal.
These homestyle soups can either accompany the main dish or serve as the main dish itself. Korean soup recipes offer a diverse range of varieties and flavors, but you can generally divide them into three categories:
Guk (국): Usually light soup served along with a main dish or as a main dish.
Jeongol (전골): A hot pot with variety of ingredients boiled together in a large pot
Korean stews called Jjigae (찌개) fall into their own separate category. Jjigae is thicker and tends to be heavier than guk (soup).
This list includes popular Korean soups enjoyed in Korean homes. Most of them are easy and quick to prepare, full of flavor and umami. If you are looking for a healthy Korean soup, you will find it here.
Learn how to make these traditional soups with my easy Korean cooking method at your home.
20 Homestyle Korean soup recipes
1
Spicy Korean Chicken Soup (Dakgaejang)
This spicy Korean chicken soup (dakgaejang) is delicious and full of flavor! With plenty of vegetables, like leeks and mushrooms, this recipe is nourishing and comforting. Plus, learn my secret tips to keeping the broth bright red.
This authentic homemade recipe for Yukgaejang (spicy Korean beef vegetable soup) is deeply flavorful and comforting. I’ve included step-by-step photos and my top tips for making this satisfyingly spicy beef stew at home in your own kitchen.
Korean beef radish soup is a comforting soup that is often served in winter time in Korea. It's worth to look for Korean radish to get the mellow flavor of the soup. Gluten-free!
Galbitang is a hearty Korean short rib soup made with aromatic vegetables. Cook this galbitang recipe in an instant pot or over the stovetop. Making it a day in advance is recommended to achieve a clean taste in the broth.
Seaweed soup (miyeokguk) is a light and comforting Korean soup made with dried seaweed and beef. This easy recipe creates a delicious and nutritious soup in no time.
Mandu guk is a Korean dumpling soup often served in the winter, especially at the New Year. You can make this comfort soup quickly with store-bought frozen dumplings and a flavorful broth of your choice.
Korean-style seaweed egg drop soup is light, flavorful, and easy to make with just a few ingredients. Korean soybean paste (doenjang) adds deep umami, perfect with rice.
Tteokguk is a popular Korean rice cake soup enjoyed for Korean New Year’s Day. Soft and chewy rice cakes are simmered in a rich, flavorful broth of beef and vegetables. Perfect comfort food any time.
Learn to make authentic Korean pumpkin porridge at home (hobakjuk recipe). It’s a velvety, versatile rice dish for any meal, from breakfast to even dessert.
Using anchovy stock as a soup base, this soybean sprout soup with kimchi is a popular hangover soup in Korea. Use very sour cabbage kimchi to get a salivating taste.
Lean beef slices are quickly simmered with bean sprouts in a spicy broth, this beef and bean sprout soup brings a Korean comfort when you need it. serve with rice and kimchi.
Korean turnip green and potato soup makes is homey and comforting. Korean soybean paste deepens the flavor of broth and makes it delicious to serve with rice.
Dried pollock fish is simmered with soybean sprouts and tofu in a flavorful stock to make a light Korean style hangover soup. It takes only 15 minutes to fix this breakfast soup.
Oi Naengguk is a classic Korean cold cucumber soup. The light and refreshing taste of fresh cucumbers and seaweed in a chilled savory broth is perfect for hot summer days.
Hand torn noodle soup (sujebi) is Korean version of chicken and dumpling. Potato is added to the simple dumpling and simmered in a savory chicken stock.
Korean knife cut noodle soup made with chicken (dak kalguksu) is a soul comforting chicken soup of Korea. Korean herb broth makes it very flavorful. This recipe uses homemade noodles but store-bought noodles work fine, too.
Korean Soybean Paste Soup with Beef, Watercress, and Chives
This comforting Korean soybean paste soup (doenjang guk) is made with beef, watercress, and chives. It's flavor is light yet robust, appropriate to enjoy any time of the day.
Heat oils in a 4 qt soup pot over med-low heat. Add the beef and cook until browned.
Add radish pieces and toss together with beef. Pour water and add dried sea kelp. Cover with a lid and bring it to boil over med-high heat. When boiling, remove the sea kelp and discard.
Using a small fine mesh strainer, scoop out scums floating on top. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, covered.
Add garlic and Korean soup soy sauce or tuna sauce. Add salt to season according to your taste.
Add the Asian leek or green onion, and pepper. Remove from heat and serve hot with rice and kimchi
Notes
Korean radishes are easily found in most Korean stores. If not available, use daikon radish and add 1 teaspoon of sugar to the soup when simmering.