Gui (grilled)
김 Gim
Thin sheets of dried seaweed brushed with oil, salted and toasted, used to wrap bites of rice.
- Laver
- Spice: Not spicy
- Vegetarian option
At a glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Laver seaweed, sesame or perilla oil, salt |
| How it's served | Small crisp squares stacked in a dish or in a small packet, set out with other side dishes |
| Spice level | Not spicy — No chili heat. |
| Diet | Vegetarian option — The dish is meat-free, or a meat-free version is commonly served. Still check the broth and sauces. |
| Allergens | Sesame |
| Ask about | The oil may be perilla instead of sesame; plain sheets may come with soy sauce for dipping. |
| On the menu | 김 (Gim) |
| Also called | kim · gimgui · roasted seaweed |
| Region | Nationwide |
Based on the usual recipe. Restaurants vary, so always tell the staff.
How to eat Laver
Take one sheet with chopsticks
Gim comes in a small stack or packet for the table to share. Lift one square at a time.
Wrap a bite of rice
Lay the sheet over your rice, fold it around a small bite and eat it in one go. Add a piece of another side dish if you like.
Ask for a refill
Side dishes are often refilled for free, but some restaurants charge for extra gim.
On the table
Order it as 김. You rarely need to: it often comes as a side dish with a meal, but some restaurants charge for extra.
- On the menu: 김
- Usually sold: Included with a meal, as a side dish
Where it comes from
Old Korean records list gim as a local product of Gyeongsang Province and of Taein Island in South Jeolla. Old local stories suggest gim farming had begun by the mid-Joseon period. Farming gim is the oldest kind of sea farming in Korea.
Sources: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (encykorea.aks.ac.kr)
Questions about Laver
Is gim vegetarian?
Yes. Gim at meals is seaweed toasted with sesame or perilla oil and salt.
Is gim the same as Japanese nori?
Mostly. Both are laver seaweed, but Korean gim at meals is usually brushed with oil, salted and toasted.
Is gim used in gimbap?
Yes. Gimbap is usually rolled in plain toasted sheets, not the oiled and salted kind.
- By Jason Kim (Bumsoo)
- Last reviewed October 24, 2026