Miyeokguk (미역국)

Seaweed soup — what every Korean eats on their birthday.

Korean name: 미역국
Spice level: Not spicy
Flavor: savory · briny
Typically contains: seaweed
Vegetarian / vegan: Sometimes — vegetable-forward, but anchovy broth, fish sauce or meat garnish is common. Ask first
Typical price: ₩9,000–₩13,000 per person checked 2026-07 — varies by area
Good to know: Beginner-friendly ●●●●○ Solo dining ●●●●○ Kid-friendly ●●●●●
Also written as: miyeok guk, seaweed soup, birthday soup, miyuk guk

Spice and flavor are editorial assessments of the standard version — individual restaurants and recipes vary. Ingredient notes are typical, not guaranteed: always check with the restaurant for allergies or dietary needs. Eating and cooking notes describe common practice in Korea; our first-hand deep-dives live in the Eat Like a Local guides.

What is Miyeokguk?

Miyeokguk (미역국) is seaweed soup — wakame simmered with beef, mussels, or dried anchovy stock in a clean, savory broth. It is Korea's birthday soup: mothers eat it after childbirth for its minerals, and everyone eats it on their birthday in acknowledgment. One cultural footnote — students avoid it before exams, since "slippery seaweed" is superstitiously linked to slipping on the test.

How to eat it

Eat it with rice like any guk — plain, brothy spoonfuls between bites.
Beef, mussel or plain versions all count; the seaweed is the star.
If it's someone's birthday at the table, congratulate them — miyeokguk on birthdays is near-mandatory.

Cooking it at home

Soak dried miyeok 15 minutes (it expands 10x — use less than you think).
Sauté with sesame oil and beef or mussels, then add water and simmer 20+ minutes.
Season with soup soy sauce and garlic.

Good to know

Never serve it to someone about to take a big exam — slippery seaweed = slipping on the test, a superstition Koreans take half-seriously.

Birthday tradition comes from postpartum mothers eating it for recovery — you eat it to honor your mother on your birthday.

Nutrition

Calories	12 kcal
Carbohydrate	0.87 g
Protein	0.65 g
Fat	0.61 g
Sodium	168 mg

Per serving (~400g): ≈48 kcal · sodium ≈672 mg (34% of the WHO daily guideline, 2,000 mg)

Per 100g · total serving 400g · Official data: National Integrated Food Nutritional Information Standard Data (Korea MFDS) (DB item: 미역국, synced 2026-07-17). Values vary by recipe and portion.