Korean soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang)

guk-ganjang 국간장

Flavor and role

Traditional Korean soy sauce brewed from fermented soybean blocks (meju) alone. It is light in colour but saltier, and seasons soups while keeping the broth clear.

Typical dishes and uses

Seaweed soup (miyeok-guk), bean sprout soup, kimchi jjigae, seasoned vegetable side dishes (namul)

Substitutes

1 tbsp soup soy sauce = 1 tbsp regular soy sauce + 1/4 tsp salt (slightly darker colour), or 2/3 tbsp anchovy fish sauce (or fish sauce).

Storage

Unopened: 1-2 years at room temperature. Opened: 1 year in a cool place or the fridge. If a white film forms on the surface, skim it off and boil the sauce before use.

Main countries

Korea

Used in this book

Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew)Dak-kalguksu (Korean Chicken Knife-Cut Noodle Soup)Galbitang (Korean Beef Short Rib Soup)Gamjatang (Korean Pork Bone and Potato Stew)Jeonju-Style Kongnamul Gukbap (Soybean Sprout Rice Soup)Mul-naengmyeon (Cold Buckwheat Noodles in Icy Beef Broth)Sujebi (Hand-Torn Dough Soup)Sundubu Jjigae (Spicy Soft Tofu Stew)Tteokguk (Korean Rice Cake Soup)Yukgaejang (Spicy Korean Beef and Leek Soup)Koryo-saram Kimchi BorschtKorean Haemul-tang Bouillabaisse with Gochujang RouilleBudae Jeongol with Brisket Broth and Aged Chilli PasteYukgaejang-Style Spicy Caldo de Res (Korean × Mexican)Hand-Cut Dak-kalguksu in Clear Chicken BrothClear Double-Beef Galbitang with Brisket and Egg RibbonsSizzling Galbi Crispy Rice with Pour-Over BrothRich Perilla Gamjatang with Seasoned Napa GreensDongnae-Style Seafood Pajeon with Rice-Flour BatterPaprika Maeuntang Fish Stew (Hungarian × Korean)Aged-Kimchi Pork Belly Jjigae with Anchovy BrothEarthenware-Pot Kongnamul Gukbap with SquidKuy Teav Kalguksu (Cambodian Broth with Korean Knife-Cut Noodles)Ginger-Sesame Madrouba Dakjuk (Emirati × Korean)Pyongyang-Style Mul-naengmyeon with Brisket and ShankGazpacho Tomato NaengmyeonSamgye Sotbap (Ginseng Chicken Pot Rice)Clam Sujebi with Anchovy-Shiitake BrothSeafood Sundubu with Scallion Chili OilClear Brisket Broth Tteokguk with Traditional GarnishesTteokguk Cream GratinDaegu-Style Yukgaejang with Leek Chilli OilYukgaejang Birria Tacos (Mexican × Korean)

Updated 2026-10-10