Soup
육개장 Yukgaejang
A spicy red soup of shredded beef and green onions, eaten with rice as a full meal.
Spice: Hot
Guk (soup)
미역국 Miyeokguk
A light soup of soft seaweed and beef, eaten with rice and often served on birthdays.
- Seaweed Soup
- Spice: Not spicy
- Contains beef
At a glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Miyeok seaweed, beef, soy sauce, sesame oil |
| How it's served | Hot in a bowl, with rice and side dishes |
| Spice level | Not spicy — No chili heat. |
| Diet | Contains beef — Beef or beef stock is a standard ingredient. |
| Allergens | Soy · Wheat · Sesame |
| Ask about | Some versions use mussels, clams or anchovy stock instead of beef. |
| On the menu | 미역국 (Miyeokguk) |
| Also called | miyeok guk · miyuk guk · miyeokkuk · birthday soup |
| Region | Nationwide |
Based on the usual recipe. Restaurants vary, so always tell the staff.
How to eat Seaweed Soup
Eat it with rice
Take a spoonful of soup between bites of rice, or put some rice into the bowl.
Pick up the seaweed with chopsticks
The seaweed is soft and slippery, so hold it against your spoon if it slides.
Finish with the broth
Drink the rest with your spoon. Side dishes are often refilled for free.
How to order it
Order it as 미역국. It often comes as the soup in set meals; on the menu it is a single portion with rice.
- On the menu: 미역국
- Usually sold: 1 serving, with rice
Where it comes from
In Korea, a new mother is served rice and miyeokguk as her first meal after giving birth. This first meal is seasoned with only soy sauce and sesame oil. The soup has also become a customary birthday food.
Sources: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (encykorea.aks.ac.kr)
Similar dishes
Questions about Seaweed Soup
Is miyeokguk vegetarian?
Usually not. The standard version is simmered with beef, and others use mussels, clams or anchovy stock. Ask the staff before you order.
How spicy is miyeokguk?
Not spicy. It is a mild soup seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil.
Why do Koreans eat miyeokguk on birthdays?
Custom. New mothers are served it as their first meal after giving birth, and it has become a customary birthday food.
- By Jason Kim (Bumsoo)
- Last reviewed October 24, 2026