Salted seafood
새우장 Saeujang
Raw shrimp marinated in soy sauce, peeled at the table and eaten cold with rice.
Spice: Not spicy
Jeotgal & gejang (salted seafood)
간장게장 Ganjanggejang
Raw crab marinated in soy sauce and eaten cold with rice, which is often mixed into the empty shell.
- Soy Sauce Marinated Crab
- Spice: Not spicy
- Contains seafood
At a glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Raw crab, soy sauce, garlic |
| How it's served | Cold, cut into pieces in the shell, with rice and side dishes |
| Spice level | Not spicy — No chili heat. |
| Diet | Contains seafood — Fish, shellfish, fish sauce, salted seafood (jeotgal) or anchovy stock is a standard ingredient. |
| Allergens | Crustacean shellfish · Soy · Wheat |
| Ask about | The marinade may include anchovy stock, kelp, fruit or chili; set meals add other side dishes. |
| On the menu | 간장게장 (Ganjanggejang) |
| Also called | ganjang gejang · gejang · kejang · raw marinated crab |
| Region | Nationwide |
Based on the usual recipe. Restaurants vary, so always tell the staff.
How to eat Soy Sauce Marinated Crab
Squeeze the meat out
Hold a piece of crab and squeeze or suck the soft meat from the shell. Using your hands is normal.
Mix rice in the top shell
If you get the top shell, put rice in it and mix it with the roe and sauce. Eat it with a spoon.
Wrap a bite in seaweed
Some places give sheets of roasted seaweed. Wrap rice and crab meat in one and eat it in one bite.
How to order it
Order it as 간장게장. It is usually sold as a set meal with rice and side dishes, and most places serve it per person, so you can order one alone.
- On the menu: 간장게장
- Usually sold: 1 serving, with rice
Where it comes from
Also called gejeot, crab in soy sauce is recorded in old Korean books such as Sallim gyeongje and Gyuhap chongseo. These records show it has been part of Korean meals since the 1600s.
Sources: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (encykorea.aks.ac.kr)
Similar dishes
Questions about Soy Sauce Marinated Crab
Is ganjanggejang raw?
Yes. The crab is not cooked; it is marinated raw in soy sauce. If you avoid raw seafood, ask the staff for a cooked dish.
How spicy is ganjanggejang?
Not spicy. The soy marinade is salty and savory, with no chili heat.
What is the difference between ganjanggejang and yangnyeomgejang?
The sauce. Ganjanggejang is marinated in soy sauce, while yangnyeomgejang is coated in a sweet and spicy chili sauce.
- By Jason Kim (Bumsoo)
- Last reviewed October 29, 2026